The Challenge: A Cookout Crate for Man Crates!
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?
Oh yea, assorted dry rubs for the grill master. Love this assortment and the packaging is fantastic!
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!
This apron is the ultimate manly grilling apron, men love having their tools organized and this apron does exactly that.
You will need to identify the grill master and this tee shirt solves that problem.
Who wants to bother with matches, get him this easy peasy lighter, click and light those coals!
So he’s a little tired of standing at the grill, how about this camouflage seat/drink cooler. Pretty cool!
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.
What manly cookout gift would be complete without some steak, organic grass fed steak of course.
Ok maybe some salmon too!! Fresh, wild and not farmed. Delicious!!
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.
Great ideas!!
Thank you so much!
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. ❤
LOL, thank you me too makes me want to go grill a steak or a salmon!!
Tee-hee! Now that was fun. Cool challenge. Have a fabulous Friday!
Fun right, I had a blast!! I love shopping even virtually.
Lovely collections Suzanne. ..loved it…will look into that site….have a lovely week end…
Thanks Chitra, I had a great time doing it. You also have a wonderful weekend.
Suzanne – you have some great ideas for a man-crate! Those dry rubs – even I love!
I think I am going to order the rubs love them too!! Thanks Shashi.
Great ideas….very interesting…
It was fun and I love a challenge. Thanks so much.
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. 🙂
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!!
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!?
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.
Thanks for the answer to the dry rubs ‘mystery’. Happy Weekend.
What a fun challenge you participated in, great gifts!
Thanks it was fun!
love the post!! especially salmon 🙂
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!
🙂 she should be the happiest woman in the world 🙂
Great post Suzanne. Really good products you came up with too. like that cutting board for the grill! Gorgeous.
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.
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 🙂
I know the name was funny. Would love to have some of the items, especially that custom cutting board!
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 🙂
Isn’t that leg lamp a riot. I have never seen a lamp like that in person. What did Corina do with the lamp?
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. 😀 )))
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!
Love the ideas Suzanne 🙂 My favorite is the magnetic bottle opener!
Thank you, I love that idea too. So convenient!!
You introduce lot of amazing info and sites:-) super cool will see thanks Suzanne
Thank you, I really loved this challenge it was fun!
Love all the ideas here 🙂
Thank you so much.
Great list! Any man would like a crate filled with those gifts!
Thank you, I think I would too!!
Excellent choices all! I would add some sort of headgear–us men, we like hats!
A hat yes I forgot a hat. Will have to find just the right one and add. Thank you.
What a great combination of all things “manly”! I know my husband would love all of it! Good job, Suzanne!
Thank you, I tried my hardest not to be too girly and have things that men might enjoy!
Another fun post Suzanne!! Love the cutting board for the bar-b-que–we could use that around here…
Isn’t that cutting board great, love it. Thanks Rhonda.
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!
I would abscond with the cutting board for sure, thanks so much.
Fantastic collection, Suz! Love the food tent- I use those all.the.time! And the magnetic bottle opener is brilliant. 🙂
Thank you, I enjoyed it, virtual shopping is fun and I always enjoy a challenge.
What a fabulous post Suzanne! I love all of your ideas and will keep in mind for this years Christmas & Birthday presents.
Thanks Margot, it was fun picking out things for a mens cookout gift. Thats right in Australia it’s summer at Christmas time.
Haha, I love it!!
LOL! Thanks Patty.
Super cool ideas Suzanne but never mind the “man crate” – bring out the woman crates – I want some of those items!!! 😉
I totally agree, I think they would make a terrific girls crate too!
You did a great job creating a crate that any man would be happy to have.
I had fun doing it, thank you so much.
Hahaha! That leg lamp is always hilarious! I would want to steal a few things out of that crate (like that gorgeous cutting board…)!
I still laugh when I think of him with that lamp, its really so funny, Thanks Mary Frances, yes that cutting board is amazing.
For an outdoor cook, this crate is a brilliant idea 😀
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Thanks Uru! it is a fun idea.
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!
Thank you, had to try think about what a man might like, not sure I succeeded but it was a fun try,
By the way…how is your hand doing these days???
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.
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!!!
Thanks Azita, I had fun putting it all together.
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.
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.