Happy Father's Day!
"My father didn't tell me how to live, he lived and let me watch him do it".
This is my favorite quote for all fathers. I do not know who wrote this but it's the absolute most simple yet impactful message that any child can say about their dad. If you are able to say those words about your own dad, what a blessing you have in him!!! It is always most important to lead by example as a parent, as words are fleeting. All we need to do is look at the way someone has lived their life and there in lies the truth & example for you to choose to follow or not to follow.
Happy Father's Day to all of you this weekend!!!! I hope your children spoil you in practical eco-friendily ways and as a result, you feel incredibly special. I thought I would share some ideas of my own as well as a short video by Alicia Silverstone. She shares her own sustainable & fabulous suggestions for what to get dad this weekend!!!
This brings me to the gentleman pictured to your left (above). Meet Lee. I wanted to surprise Lee with a blog post wishing him a Happy Father's Day!!! He is an incredible dad of two lovely young girls. He parents with absolute compassion, care and love. As the lucky girl who is dating him & who happens to be getting much of his attention (swoon), I get to observe this father of two, lead by the absolute best example that a father could.
Lee, Happy Father's Day!! You are certainly an incredible dad & I hope this post is a welcomed surprise to you!!! Lee is about to embark on a two week vacation with his daughters. My heart melts when I see this dad so focused on raising these girls with such integrity & dignity, putting them first and spending much quality time with them.
What are you going to be doing for the dad, spouse, boyfriend etc. in your own life?
I am unique in that I am not a huge supporter of traditional gift giving for these particular holidays. I love to make someone feel special & loved with a card, a handwritten letter, blog post (wink), organic gift baskets of healthy food and wine when affordable and/or a deliciously decadent meal somewhere in Chicago - with a gorgeous view. I am of the mindset that materialism often takes center stage during any holiday and getting back to heartfelt simplicity is actually most genuine, kind and even romantic. This is not to say thoughtful gift giving is not as equally appreciated! If one can afford it & sky is the limit, why not get creative!
If you do not like any of the ideas shared above, what about taking dad to a baseball game so you both can spend quality time together (Go Cubs....yes, I am a Cubs fans - bite your tongues Sox fans)?! Alicia (below) recommends going for a hike together in one of her blog posts which is also a stellar idea. Quality time with those we love is what matters most!
Please take the time this weekend to combine an enthusiastic Happy Father's Day wish & a small kind gesture to a dad that you love!!!!!
Now let's hear Alicia's ideas! She obviously shares my philosophy {you can read more from Alicia at www.thekindlife.com}:
In our family, we dance in between. We are romantics and suckers for any opportunity to celebrate and mark a moment! But we are not big on exchanging gifts. Instead we just really enjoy each other like we do everyday, and just try to make holidays about being a family. If you want to do something special, send a nice card or make a thoughtful gesture, like offering to clean your dad’s house, or cook him a nice meal. If you feel you should give a gift, pick something eco conscious that your dad really needs.
Here are some more ideas for how you can celebrate a kind Father’s Day, plus how my family celebrated Mother’s Day:
The Earth’s precious resources provide an inspiring reason not to buy gifts. Go No Impact Man style! The less we buy, the better off we are. And if we do buy, let’s make those choices really Earth-friendly. A bonus is that you get to save money at the same time! Win-win. Be creative and heartfelt in what you give – it’s way more meaningful.
A great idea is to veganize something your father loves...his favorite desert, for example. This is good for all holidays and celebrations. Create something that is your loved ones' favorite meal and just make it as yummy as you can in the direction of what they love.
Organic flowers are also great for older parents or for anyone who doesn't need anything. Organic flowers can make you feel special. I feel bad that they die, but they are grown responsibly and no workers suffer (check out my Valentine's Day blog for more info about organic flowers). I feel good suprising someone who may not expect flowers...so every once in a while, for the right person, flowers are lovely.
Thanks Alicia for your insight & Happy Father's Day to your hubby!
Thanks to all of my readers for taking the time to read, browse and share my website with others. It's very much appreciated & my goal is to have inspired you in some small area of your life!!!
Happy Father's Day to all of you & especially to Lee!
Much love folks,
Girl Gone Vegan,
Kelly
