But, we can’t forget that Memorial Day is a day for remembering the soldiers who have fought and died for freedom and democracy in the armed forces of the United States. Without them, our lives would no doubt be much, much different.

The unique combination of honoring a somber past and celebrating family fun means there are a lot of options as to how to make this holiday memorable. Before you fire up the grill tell us…

…what are you doing to celebrate Memorial Day?

Here’s what we’re up to: 

Dana Holmes, Editor in Chief:

 “I’ll be at the wedding of two of my favorite people in New Orleans the day before Memorial Day, so I’ll most likely be at my hotel pool and searching out the best BBQ in town come Monday. Any suggestions?”

Dan tower, Men’s Gift Editor:

“I’ll be headed upstate to do some fishing, running and grilling…unless it’s crumby weather, in which case, I’ll be doing some fishing, running and grilling!”

 Gillian Joseph, VP Merchandising:

“I will be attending my traditional BBQ marathon – 5 barbeques in 3 states in 3 days.  Hopefully the weather will cooperate and I will get to swim in a few pools along the way as well. (Don’t worry, I will wait 30 minutes after eating before jumping in the deep end!)”

Michelle Dilk, Teen, Eco and Beauty Editor:

“I’ll be with friends in Piney Point, Maryland. We are staying at a house on the water, so I can expect lots of swimming, barbecuing and other debauchery.”

Liz Thearle, Kids and Baby Editor:

“I will be at my summer home in the Catskills with close friends. I will most likely spend my day in the sun sipping prosecco, followed by an evening of barbecuing and enjoying a nice warm fire with friends.”

Felicia Wong, Pets, Flowers and Food Editor:

“I will be celebrating with my friends and family on Staten Island, enjoying the weather and my aunt’s famous honey glazed grilled chicken wings on the barbeque grill!  What is your favorite barbeque food?”

Donna Kramer, Editorial and Social Media Assistant:

“I’ll be in Miami visiting family and friends for the Memorial Day weekend. You’ll find me lounging poolside, absorbing as much Vitamin D as my body can handle, sipping an ice cold cocktail and hopefully munching on some homemade BBQ!”

Celebrate more holidays with us!

For the glam gals, give gifts that will be useful, but fun in high school!

Clarisonics have been trendy in the beauty market for awhile now, but the updated Mia Skin Cleansing System in Jaguar  is THE one to give. Not only is the Mia proven to help improve skin with its powerful brush, but she will adore the new leopard print. High school can be a rough time for a young gals skin, so she will be thankful for this groundbreaking device.

If you want to go a more traditional route, I like the new kate spade new york ‘live colorfully’ parfum. It’s a really sweet smelling scent that will make her feel more “adult” while still remaining playful and youthful. Bonus: she will love adorning her room with the adorable bow shaped bottle.

For those grads you don’t know well or aren’t sure what to get, I have a couple of steadfast suggestions that any graduate will love.

A Micro Cool Mini Fridge will be much appreciated for grads with their own rooms. They will be the envy of friends when they can stockpile their own snacks and beverages in this compact mini fridge in their room.

Another popular gift idea are Fandango Gift Cards, movie buffs will have fun going to see new flicks and stocking up on popcorn and nachos! They come in an assortment of price points so you can grab one for everyone on your list (without breaking the bank).

They’ll also LUV the iLuv Mobiout Splash Resistant Wireless Bluetooth Speaker, available in a bevy of colors it’s splash-proof case makes it perfect for listening to music outdoors or in your room.

To go a more sentimental route, jewelry and watches are great for graduations.

Teen gals will love the Engraved Graduation Bracelet, it comes complete with a dainty grad cap charm to remember the day!

For guys, I suggest going to watch route. Keeping it on the casual side is suggested and Swatch Watches  are trendy looking without being too adult. Gifts.com has a large selection of personalized jewelry gifts as well if you are looking to get a nice monogrammed piece.

Tech wise, if they are lucky enough to be receiving (or already own) an iPhone, giving a cool phone case to protect it is always appreciated.

Teens are crazy for mustaches and will love showing off the Fun Stuff Mustache Phone Case.

Another popular graduation gift is a camera. Your young grad probably isn’t ready for a heavy-duty one, but Lomography as a full range of affordable and unique cameras that will satisfy their photography cravings. The La Sardinia Flash DIY Edition is really great because you can completely customize it by doodling and gluing to your liking while still creating the retro-looking pictures that Lomo is famous for!

Finally, the 8^th grade grad dream gift is the iPad Mini. It’s portable and perfect for students to research school work on (or, more likely, browse the internet, download their favorite music and movies and keep up on social media!).

The transition from middle school to high school can be a difficult and scary one, but these gifts will ensure the graduates in your life will be excited about the change! For more great gift ideas, check out our Pinterest Board Graduation Inspiration or shop all of our Graduation Gifts.

Now we get to show the dads how it’s really done!

I like to give themed gift bundles for Fathers Day. So if you like the idea of a gift bundle, first ask yourself what “theme” the dad you’re buying for would like. Is your husband a sports fan? Is he a techie? Maybe he’s a master of the grill? No matter what his favorite hobby is, there’s a great bundle that you can put together for him.

The Sports Dad

My husband is obsessed with golf. So much so, that I don’t remember the last trip we took that didn’t involve at least one round of golf. Yes, yes he did golf on my birthday vacation. So a custom golf gift is a smart way to go (probably steer clear of specific equipment!).

Another idea he’ll love is if you go all out and purchase a round of golf at his favorite local golf course or maybe even a golf lesson with a PGA Pro!

The  Techie Dad

Our Techie Dads love their tech gadgets or “toys”. They always have the latest gadgets and the coolest technology. Why not help them personalize their gadgets, and create a personalized cover with a family photo or a favorite kids art project with Skinit.

Depending on how expensive you want to go, you could always get him the GoPro Hero 3. I bought one for my husband for Christmas, and I think I’ve used it more than he has. Bonus! This amazing little camera has wifi so you, I mean he, can upload your videos straight from the camera.

The Grilling Dad

I’ve never quite understood why men take grilling so seriously. This is one of those things I shouldn’t question and just enjoy the outcome.

I love the Grill Master Crate from Man Crates.  Honestly I love all their crates.  If you have a chance to look through them I highly recommend taking your time doing it, because you’ll find a lot of great options.  I think I’ll be ordering the Zombie Survival Crate for myself.  You never know.

One of my husband’s favorite gifts was the Bar-B-Q tool kit I got him a few years ago. This will also guarantee that he will not be using your good silverware while grilling!

A great gift is a super way to show how much you appreciate dad, but what’s my favorite gift to give for Father’s Day? Each year I have the kids make a video tell their dad why they love him, and why he’s the best dad in the world.  It’s so amazing to look back and see how they have grown and how their answer changes each year.

About our guest:

Theresa is the founder of Rock On Mommies, a site that reminds moms not to lose themselves in motherhood. Theresa is a former NFL Cheerleader and has appeared on both local and national shows including ABC’s Moms Get Real. She is currently a Brand Ambassador for The Honest Company and has worked with major brands including Kenmore, Tropicana, Nissan, KSL Resorts and many more. Theresa is, of course, a Rock On Mommy herself with two super young kids of her own.
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There are three major denominations in Judaism: Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform, and numerous small denominations, as well, but lucky for you, most Jewish wedding traditions are consistent among the denominations.

The Gifts:

Money - One gift that’s common at a Jewish wedding is money, but not just any money, money in multiples of the number eighteen, which is the numerical equivalent to the Hebrew word chai, pronounced “hai” with the “h” as a sort of gurgle in the back of your throat. Chai means “life” in English.

Depending on your relationship to the couple at hand you might want to give $144, which is eight times chai, or eleven times chai, which is $198, or any other variation you feel comfortable with.

Registry – If you aren’t Jewish, don’t feel obligated to buy something Jewish. That can be as awkward as wearing a kilt to a Scottish wedding if you’re not Scottish. Instead, look up the happy couple’s registry using our wedding registry finder. Or, if you can’t find a registry, you can reach out to other attendees or family of the bride or groom to find out where they are registered. Registries are always a safe bet. So, when in doubt, buy off of the registry!

The Rules:

Dress Appropriately – When attending a Jewish wedding, make sure to dress with an appropriate sense of modesty, which of course doesn’t mean to put on your best turtleneck and floor-length skirt, but try to avoid dresses that are too low-cut, overly revealing, or very short. It’s distracting.

Don’t Dance (sort of) - If the wedding you’re going to is Orthodox (a stricter sect), don’t expect to have a romantic dance with your husband. At Orthodox weddings, kind of like at a junior high dance, dancing is separated—men on one side and women on the other. At most non-Orthodox weddings, however, dancing is pretty much dancing as we know it in Western culture.

Hamotzi! – Another Jewish tradition to be made aware of is the hamotzi, which is the blessing of the challah (braided egg bread similar to brioche), and more importantly for you, the signal of when you can eat. Once this delicious bread has been blessed, usually by a grandfather or an uncle, everyone can eat, but usually not before that.

Dinner Don’ts – Speaking of food, the Jewish religion forbids milk and meat to be served together, and doesn’t permit shellfish either. So, don’t expect to be served milk in your coffee when it’s time for dessert. It will most likely be soy or pareve and save that hankering for oysters for the following night!

 Have a question about a specific type of wedding? Comment here and we’ll do a future post on the topic just for you!

Stay tuned for more wedding guest etiquette.

And, if you want to go rogue and buy a wedding gift without consulting their registry or their traditions…see all of our favorite wedding gifts !

What does that mean for gift giving? Well, most importantly it means that you need to get different gifts for her different expressions so that no matter what is happening when you give the gifts, at least one will resonate! She tends to be fairly low maintenance, but that in no way reflects negatively on her impeccable sense of style, housekeeping and knowledge. She’s a good looking smart cookie for sure. So, what celeb are we going to shout out as this month’s giftee?

Gemini s are born: May 22nd – June 21st

One of our favorite Gemini ladies is Natalie Portman, who’s  Birthday is June 9th. She is an actress known for being brilliant, eco-conscious, and classically stylish which pretty much sums up Geminis in a nut shell! Here are our picks for her smart style. Now get to shopping for your Gemini lady. They don’t like anything to be late, ever.

Recycled Canvas Tote $89:

As a frequent traveler and mother Natalie Portman would find this canvas tote very useful to hold all her necessities while still being eco-friendly.

Eco Ceramic Cup $14.95:

Is what every mom needs when they are on the go with their kids! The best part it is microwaveable and dishwasher safe.

SPROUT Watches Cork Dial Watch $55:

This watch is made with a natural cork dial that offers earthy texture on an eco-friendly watch with a round case and topstitched strap made entirely of biodegradable materials. It also looks great on, which she will like.

Alex and Ani ‘Love’ Wire Bangle $24:

A symbol etched on a vintage-inspired charm dangles from an expandable bangle handcrafted from recycled brass. Classic, conscious and oh so Gemini.

Tarte Femme Naturale Eye Palette $44:

The reusable eye shadow palette is great for anyone who is eco-conscious and loves beauty!

See all of our blog posts that help you shop by astrology.

And, see our whole horoscope gift guide that helps you navigate the stars to find the perfect gift.

Geminis are born: May 22nd – June 21st

Today we are going to celebrate Mr. Captain America himself, Chris Evans (June 13th)! Did you know he actually practices Buddhism? With his busy schedule filming Captain America: The Winter Soldier and traveling non-stop, the best gifts to get him are ones that cater to his convenience and peace!

Ride Shotgun In a Stock Car $119:

We all know Chris Evans does a lot of his own stunts but why not give him the gift that will keep his adrenaline pumping! You get to experience the real life racing thrills by riding in a Nascar stock car driven by a professional instructor!

TOMS Classic 301 Sunglasses $139:

Give something meaningful! When you purchase a pair, one pair gets donated to someone in need.

Performance Sports Crate $75:

Chris Evans’s ripped body does not come easily and he must work insanely hard to maintain it during filming. This gift will help him stay fit while traveling for the show. It contains a speed rope, push up bar, and energy foods to keep him going.

Just Give happy birthday card $25:

Just Give lets the receiver of the card choose which charity they would like to donate your designated amount to. This is perfect for those who feel strongly about making the world a better place for this and future generations.

The Art of Shaving, The Four Elements of the Perfect Shave $115:

Since Chris Evans has to look his best at all times, having the perfect shave is important! A four-piece collection of full-size The Art of Shaving essentials for a clean, smooth shave.  It is formulated to avoid discomfort and enjoy the refreshing results of a brilliant shave.

Tomorrow, we’re talking about the Gemini ladies, so stay tuned if you have one on your list.

See all of our blog posts that help you shop by astrology.

And, see our whole horoscope gift guide that helps you navigate the stars to find the perfect gift.

Ralph Lauren Zebra Print Shawl: $299.99

This luxurious silk scarf is a bit of a splurge, but perfect when wanting to rock the Zebra print in a trendy, chic way and will work well as a staple in any wardrobe.

Sequin Medium Zebra Enamel Bangle: $28.00

If you think your gift recipient would want to incorporate the zebra trend in more of a subtle way, having it on a beautiful and quality piece of jewelry, like this bangle, is the way to go.

A.J. Morgan “Versailles” Sunglasses: $24.00

Any fashionista would be happy to receive a pair of these cat’s-eye shaped sunnies with this year’s hottest pattern trend.

Rafe New York Tote Extra Large Tote: $95.00 

A slouchy every day tote is taken to the next level with the bold zebra print and the pop of neon leather trim. She will be able to carry her every day essentials and do it with style.

Check out some more of my favorite Zebra gifts here.

Would you wear something with a zebra print on it? Let us know with a comment below! 

If you want to read up some more on the Zebra trend, here are a few links.

Lifestyle Mirror: MODERN ZEBRA

Style.com: Tired Of Leopard Print? Try Out Fall’s Zebra Stripes

The Fashion Spot: Get the Animal Print Trend on the British High Street 

See all of our trend reports to stay up on what’s hot and how to gift it!

The Gift:

For devout Catholics, religious-based wedding gifts are quite popular like crucifixes and bibles.

That’s great, but you’re not religious and you feel weird getting a religious gift, right? In that case, a softer purchase of angel candle holders or etched vases are great options.

If that’s still too much, find out if they have a registry. You can look them up using our easy wedding registry finder. If it’s on their registry, it’s fair game.

And, when all else fails, you can write a check. But don’t give cash! Envelopes get lost in the shuffle and a check is a lot less expensive to replace.

Rules:

Time is of the essence!

These ceremonies can go on for a long time, like more than an hour, so be prepared to sit for a while. Bring a cardigan or jacket in case you get cold and save yourself some discomfort by taking a potty break before the ceremony!

Mind your manners!

Because the ceremony is being performed in the church, a sense of reverence must be maintained due to the presence of Jesus in the Tabernacle. So, though this probably goes without saying, chewing gum, talking on cell phones, texting, and anything else thought to be irreverent is forbidden.

Don’t get up to receive communion at the mass!

Another thing to be aware of when you attend a mass is that Catholics ask those who don’t have the same beliefs to refrain from receiving Communion. It’s not that Catholics want to offend people, but they hold their beliefs in communion sacred. Communion is when everyone gets up to receive the body and blood of Christ (wine and bread).

Don’t throw rice!

Remember how it used to be a thing to throw rice at Catholic weddings? Well, leave your rice at home because that tradition is no more. It has gone by the wayside for several reasons. Guests have gotten rice in their eyes and ears, causing injuries, and people have slipped and fallen on rice on the church steps. But bubbles and other fun, Eco friendly confetti might be passed out for guests to toss in a photo.

There you have it! It’s your easy guide to surviving a Catholic wedding with savoir faire. I hope that you feel better about being a guest and can have some fun now. Remember that weddings are celebrations after all.

Stay tuned for more wedding guest etiquette.

And, if you want to go rogue and buy a wedding gift without consulting their registry or their traditions…see all of our favorite wedding gifts!

Most important for guy’s new rooms? Food! Whether for all-nighters or chilling with friends, guys will love having a mini-fridge in their rooms to fill with sodas and snacks. I like the Supercool Fridge from PBteen. It comes in a myriad of color choices and has helpful shelves to keep drinks and food organized (and easier to reach).

To go along with the new mini-fridge, give the only appliance your teen grad will ever want: a soft pretzel maker. At under $30 this cool Soft Pretzel Maker is easy to use and can make either two really big pretzels or six smaller ones for when he has friends over! His dorm will be the hit of the hall with this nifty gadget!

On the more practical end, PBteen makes amazing Bedding Bundles. Made to fit the extra-long twin beds in dorms, this classic plaid set comes with sheets, a duvet cover, pillowcases and duvet and pillow inserts. In short, that’s everything he needs to make the perfect comfy bed, even if it’s all in a messy jumble when he’s not using it.

For the wild guy, spruce up his room with Red Cup Party Lights. The twelve foot string of lights will add a party vibe to his space. If you want to help create an even more memorable room, I like Urban Outfitters Shark Head Sculpture. It looks really fun and doubles as a wall-hook for the inevitable piles of clothing that will gather on his dorm floor.

Lastly, help keep his bathroom space somewhat organized with the Reclaimed Wood Towel Shelf. It has a really nice vintage look, but allows him to toss in all his bathroom products (however messy that might be) and shut the doors so no one can see.

Shop my complete list of dorm gifts for teen guys and happy graduation to all the grads out there from the team here at Gifts.com!

Cliche 1: Grooming Products

Getting dad cologne or some grooming “product” is not such a bad idea. However, ask yourself first, “does dad wear cologne?” and/or “does he like or would he be up for trying some skin care product?” If a quick “no” is the answer to either of these, you’re better off going to Plan B gifts for your dad.

If your dad is up for it, here are two great options. The Leading Man Fragrance Sampler lets dad try five different, scents in sample sizes. Included in the set, there is a gift voucher for dad to go to a Sephora store and receive a free larger version of his favorite fragrance.

If you want to go with a single product, check out Adrenaline Junkie facial scrub by Billy Jealousy. The best way to describe the refreshing pepperminty gel, is it’s like a morning cup of coffee for his face. Dad will love it.

Cliche 2: A Classic Neck Tie

Maybe the biggest cliché gift for dad is a tie. But ties aren’t bad gift…bad ties are bad gifts! Here’s a gift tip that may seem obvious, if dad does not wear a tie, then let’s hold off getting him one for Father’s Day. If he wears a tie, the remixed version is the pocket square. Not many accessories can update and refresh dad’s look better than the versatile pocket square. These are a few stand outs that I know he’d love…and use!

Cliche 3: Photo Gift

Photo gifts are another Father’s Day staple. Again, there’s nothing inherently bad about creating a gift from a photo, but when executed poorly, the present can go over like a lead balloon. Snapbox is a service I just came across offering a great solution to make a super looking photo gift. The affordable, framed SnapBox prints start at around $10 and max out around $30. The prints are made on stretched canvas and housed in a matte black, 100% wood frame. The process is simple from either a computer or a mobile device. Here’s one I just made!

Cliche 4: Gadget Gift

Electronics and gadgets have been go-to Father’s Day gifts forever. But often they are too gimmicky and could probably now available in app form on a phone he already has. Here’s a totally fun gadget that he (and entire family) will love. Kohler’s Moxie Showerhead is a showerhead that has a magnetically attached (removable) Bluetooth enabled speaker. Just pair a mobile device and get the shower party started. While starting the day rocking out to his favorite play list is a good idea, busting out dance moves in the shower is probably not.

Cliche 5: Coffee Mug

Lastly, if (and that’s a big IF) he’s a coffee drinker, steer away from the clichéd “Dad” type coffee mug. This year get him a KeepCup.  This reusable cup is sized to be used at his local coffee shop as well as at home. One-use cups are wasteful, but a custom designed KeepCup for dad is a colorful “green” gift he can really use. Gift tip: add a gift card into the KeepCup from his favorite/local coffee shop.

Voila – cliche-free Father’s Day!

Check out all dad related blog posts for more Father’s Day gift guides.

Or, see all of my Top Father’s Day Gifts and start shopping!