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The Challenge: A Cookout Crate for Man Crates!

Google Image from "A Christmas Story"

Google Image from “A Christmas Story”

You are probably asking yourself what is Man Crates, well, I thought the same thing when I got an email from the nice people at Man Crates. This blog is family fare so I won’t say what my first thoughts were, then my imagination went to that iconic movie “A Christmas Story” and the mancrate that Ralphies Dad got when he won the big award, you know that leg lamp (still makes me laugh).  Man Crates is a crate full of wonderful goodies for any guy in your life, the ultimate gifts for men (Note: I was not compensated in any way for doing this post). In the email they said they were asking bloggers to put together a cookout crate and wanted us to let our imaginations run wild and put together what we think would make for a fun and delicious cookout geared towards men of course. I love a good cookout so I gladly accepted the challenge. Some of the gift idea’s I found on Etsy, some just google images. The cutting board is from Michaels Woodcraft.

MAN CRATES MANIFESTO
We say ‘no’ to ugly neckties, cologne samplers and executive trinkets. We don’t save wrapping paper, we don’t do ribbons.

We ship bragworthy gifts for guys. Gifts that you can’t wait to arrive because you know the recipient will love opening them.

Gifts that people gather round at the office, people following the sounds of wood being torn from wood by the included, laser-engraved crowbar.

We are Man Crates, and we deliver awesome gifts for men.

What would I put in a man crate, well here is what I came up with. I had to think about this. What do you think of my choices for a gift for that man in your life?

assorted dry rubs

assorted dry rubs on Etsy

Oh yea, assorted dry rubs for the grill master. Love this assortment and the packaging is fantastic!

magnetic bottle opener

magnetic bottle opener put on the side of the grill on Etsy

Magnetic bottle opener so that he can attach to the side of grill and pop a cold one while he’s slaving over the hot grill!

man apron

man apron on Etsy

This apron is the ultimate manly grilling apron, men love having their tools organized and this apron does exactly that.

tee shirt

tee shirt on Etsy

You will need to identify the grill master and this tee shirt solves that problem.

to start the fire

to start the fire on Etsy

Who wants to bother with matches, get him this easy peasy lighter, click and light those coals!

Sit and drink cooler

Sit and drink cooler while waiting for your steaks to grill-on Etsy

So he’s a little tired of standing at the grill, how about this camouflage seat/drink cooler. Pretty cool!

Handmade walnut cutting board

Handmade custom walnut cutting board for the grill

Had to include a great cutting board that will fit on the side of the grill from Michael’s woodcraft, men love wood!! This can be customized for your grill.

grass fed beef

grass fed beef

What manly cookout gift would be complete without some steak, organic grass fed steak of course.

salmon

salmon

Ok maybe some salmon too!! Fresh, wild and not farmed. Delicious!!

Net cover

Net cover

After you take the time to grill all that great food who wants flies and other creepy crawly’s all over it, a net cover to protect your food. Ok, it may not be manly but it’s practical.

68 Comments Post a comment
  1. Great ideas!!

    August 22, 2014
  2. Ahh….hahaha!! How much fun is that?? I love your ideas, Suzanne…you picked out everything perfect for a manly man. 🙂 Makes me want to go grill a steak, and I’m a girl!! I have to go check that site out. It sounds pretty cool. ❤

    August 22, 2014
    • LOL, thank you me too makes me want to go grill a steak or a salmon!!

      August 22, 2014
  3. Tee-hee! Now that was fun. Cool challenge. Have a fabulous Friday!

    August 22, 2014
  4. Lovely collections Suzanne. ..loved it…will look into that site….have a lovely week end…

    August 22, 2014
    • Thanks Chitra, I had a great time doing it. You also have a wonderful weekend.

      August 22, 2014
  5. shashi @ http://runninsrilankan.com #

    Suzanne – you have some great ideas for a man-crate! Those dry rubs – even I love!

    August 22, 2014
    • I think I am going to order the rubs love them too!! Thanks Shashi.

      August 22, 2014
  6. Great ideas….very interesting…

    August 22, 2014
  7. It appears you managed to cover many of the basic “necessities” for the perfectly manly cookout! Though I wouldn’t mind having most of those myself…especially that beautiful cutting board! Great ideas, Suzanne. 🙂

    August 22, 2014
    • Thanks Nancy, yes I figured most men would probably appreciate these items, it would make the experience more pleasurable IMHO, I’m with you on that board. Want one!!

      August 22, 2014
  8. I suspect it was a great deal of fun browsing the internet to find your gifts to go in the man grate. The dry rubs packing is lovely altho I have to confess I am not entirely sure what dry rubs are!?

    August 22, 2014
    • It was a lot of fun, I love shopping even virtual shopping is fun for me, A dry rub is spices, dry ones that you rub on the meat this would be as opposed to a wet marinade. Quite delicious. Thanks so much.

      August 22, 2014
      • Thanks for the answer to the dry rubs ‘mystery’. Happy Weekend.

        August 22, 2014
  9. What a fun challenge you participated in, great gifts!

    August 22, 2014
  10. love the post!! especially salmon 🙂

    August 22, 2014
    • I love that photo of the man with the salmon, I imagine him saying, Honey, I’m home and look what i brought for dinner! LOL!

      August 22, 2014
      • 🙂 she should be the happiest woman in the world 🙂

        August 26, 2014
  11. Great post Suzanne. Really good products you came up with too. like that cutting board for the grill! Gorgeous.

    August 22, 2014
    • Thank you, I had fun doing it. I wasn’t sure if I would be able to come up with manly products but I think for the most part they are.

      August 22, 2014
  12. Haha, Man Crates- that’s awesome! What a fun challenge though I think they should send the one you created for a man in your life for doing the challenge 🙂

    August 22, 2014
    • I know the name was funny. Would love to have some of the items, especially that custom cutting board!

      August 22, 2014
  13. What a fun challenge Suzanne! Ha ha, a couple of years ago Corina won a similar leg lamp at a Christmas “White Elephant” gift exchange 🙂

    August 23, 2014
    • Isn’t that leg lamp a riot. I have never seen a lamp like that in person. What did Corina do with the lamp?

      August 23, 2014
  14. Your choices a very funny and accurate! BTW, I have seen Christmas Story over 30 times. I love the movie, but… it was not by choice… we were at friends’ for Thanksgiving and their TV was set on a channel as a background, which was showing the movie’s marathon. 😀 )))

    August 23, 2014
    • I watch the marathon every year even though I have seen the movie as many times as you I never tire of it. Thanks Fae!

      August 23, 2014
  15. Love the ideas Suzanne 🙂 My favorite is the magnetic bottle opener!

    August 23, 2014
  16. Traditionally Modern Food #

    You introduce lot of amazing info and sites:-) super cool will see thanks Suzanne

    August 23, 2014
  17. Love all the ideas here 🙂

    August 23, 2014
  18. Great list! Any man would like a crate filled with those gifts!

    August 24, 2014
  19. Excellent choices all! I would add some sort of headgear–us men, we like hats!

    August 24, 2014
    • A hat yes I forgot a hat. Will have to find just the right one and add. Thank you.

      August 24, 2014
  20. CC #

    What a great combination of all things “manly”! I know my husband would love all of it! Good job, Suzanne!

    August 24, 2014
    • Thank you, I tried my hardest not to be too girly and have things that men might enjoy!

      August 24, 2014
  21. Another fun post Suzanne!! Love the cutting board for the bar-b-que–we could use that around here…

    August 24, 2014
  22. Oh yes – that lamp! That was one fabulous scene. I love what you picked out here and the cutting board is the greatest. Why bother giving it to the men though? LOL!

    August 24, 2014
  23. Fantastic collection, Suz! Love the food tent- I use those all.the.time! And the magnetic bottle opener is brilliant. 🙂

    August 24, 2014
    • Thank you, I enjoyed it, virtual shopping is fun and I always enjoy a challenge.

      August 24, 2014
  24. What a fabulous post Suzanne! I love all of your ideas and will keep in mind for this years Christmas & Birthday presents.

    August 24, 2014
    • Thanks Margot, it was fun picking out things for a mens cookout gift. Thats right in Australia it’s summer at Christmas time.

      August 25, 2014
  25. Haha, I love it!!

    August 24, 2014
  26. Super cool ideas Suzanne but never mind the “man crate” – bring out the woman crates – I want some of those items!!! 😉

    August 25, 2014
    • I totally agree, I think they would make a terrific girls crate too!

      August 25, 2014
  27. You did a great job creating a crate that any man would be happy to have.

    August 27, 2014
  28. Hahaha! That leg lamp is always hilarious! I would want to steal a few things out of that crate (like that gorgeous cutting board…)!

    August 27, 2014
    • I still laugh when I think of him with that lamp, its really so funny, Thanks Mary Frances, yes that cutting board is amazing.

      August 27, 2014
  29. For an outdoor cook, this crate is a brilliant idea 😀

    Cheers
    Choc Chip Uru

    August 28, 2014
  30. LOL, this totally made me laugh…especially the way you narrarated the post!! That magnetic bottle opener is too funny, but a great idea too. Good job on your man crate items! So fun!

    August 28, 2014
    • Thank you, had to try think about what a man might like, not sure I succeeded but it was a fun try,

      August 28, 2014
  31. By the way…how is your hand doing these days???

    August 28, 2014
    • Thanks for asking Brandi, I have lost the use of my right index finger, need surgery but won’t or can’t do it right now, I cannot bend my finger at all and it’s permanently sort of deformed looking because the joint is still dislocated. But, I have learned to adapt to not using my finger for the most part and am doing ok. Thanks.

      August 28, 2014
  32. Fig & Quince #

    Finally getting a breather and catching up with my blog roll and looks like I missed a whole bunch of goodies on your blog. LOVE this post! So many good ideas. I’m definitely bookmarking it for future uses. Personally I love the bottle opener and am drooling over the steak and agree that the cutting boards, beautiful pieces of practical artwork, are wonderful and would make wonderful gifts.

    Fantastic job curating Suzanne!!!

    September 2, 2014
  33. Everything was great until you threw in a food cover. Men do not believe in food born illness and are not grossed out by flies on their food. That’s why they have women at BBQs. Just saying. Ha ha they would likely die out if we weren’t around to defend the family against salmonella.

    September 11, 2014
    • LOL, I had to throw in the food cover, there had to a practical (womans) touch in this man crate. The thought of flies and other creepy crawly’s in my food makes me cringe, Without us they would die of salmonella poisoning , no sense.

      September 12, 2014

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