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Friday, June 5, 2009

Bigger IS Better

My husband and I are pretty different. It shouldn’t surprise you to read that I am fairly social; the girl at the party who talks a little too loud and drinks a little too much. Geoff, on the other hand, is quite the opposite. He is much more reserved and content to pass on the spotlight entirely. We have long joked that the only way we ended up together is because I eventually wore him down with my endless ideas and talking.

Over time, some things in our relationship have changed, but other aspects have remained the same. Although our lives are a bit more settled and routine now, I suppose that we are still fundamentally the same people that we were when we met during our early days of high school. For my husband, this means that he still whole-heartedly believes in the idea that bigger is better. In our world, anything worth doing is worth doing all the way.

In light of a quickly approaching Father’s Day, I put together a short list of gift ideas for men who also live by my husband's credo. These are all items Geoff bought (or made) in the last few months that make him very happy. A word of warning, though, these gifts are not for the faint hearted. Oh, and you should probably be willing to give up parking your car in your garage.



A Welder for Your Home:


If your reaction to this gift idea, is "WTF?" then you share the same response I had upon hearing this plan. "What do we have around the house that requires welding?" I asked. Plenty, apparently. For starters, there is rebar that must be held in place. Plus, I have found that it is super cool to be able to teach your kids the dangers of looking directly into the welding light when Dad is in the garage working.


A Log Splitter:

Upon hearing that we would be purchasing a log splitter, I naively believed that we were buying something similar to a fancy ax. Although I am not sure what a fancy ax looks like, I never dreamed that it would require us to park our car outside and that it would weigh close to one ton. If you have been reading our blog for a while, you might also know that the Three reside in the San Francisco Bay Area. This is a fairly urban area of the United States.

My backyard is not what you would call a forest.

Homemade BBQ:


I added this item to the list for anyone who wants to make their Dad a little something special, rather than simply buying a gift from Home Depot. In this case, why buy a BBQ when you can make one? After watching an episode of Guy's Big Bite on the Food Network, my man thought it would be cool to build a BBQ out of a tire rim. Little did I know that gas grills are for suckers.

Outdoor Pizza Oven:


Yup, you read this last one correctly. An outdoor pizza oven. Why get pizza to go when you can make it in your own backyard?



Actually, I should take that statement back. Who am I kidding? I am pretty excited about this one, especially if it means that my husband is going to be cooking tasty oven fired pizza for me and the kids.



Maybe bigger is better...

-Francesca

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64 comments:

E @ Scottsville said...

Hey, can I come over for pizza? I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE me some pizza!

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm! Never had it cooked outdoors though, so may I be your first guest?

Peaches said...

I can soooo relate. My hubby graduated from the "Bigger is Better" school.

lov said...

i do so love you and your post!! :)

Barbaloot said...

Mmm-homemade pizza is the best!

Sevi said...

Homemade pizza, I'll start driving up there now!!

"the girl at the party who talks a little too loud and drinks a little too much" ---> i'm totally that girl.

the man is the silent sit back type.

Unknown said...

I was cracking up over these...love the log splitter idea...in San Fran!!

Counselormama said...

Great ideas, who needs another tie anyways?

Nancy said...

LOL about the log splitter! Thankfully my husband is a geek like me and wouldn't know what to do with one or a welder for that matter... the down side of this is that he is inept at doing home repairs and I have to rely on paying someone or calling my step dad!

Kameron said...

I am thinking a few of those things are out of place in San Fran! Maybe he can split logs for your woodfired pizza!

Eve said...

Oh yes - it must be a guy thing. We don't have the log splitter because I think that would go in the "chores" category for myu husband, but he's got a welder and he's been talking about a pizza oven forever! ;)

I will fully support the pizza oven idea though. As much as I enjoy cooking, I love it even more when my husband has that duty (which never happens unless it's BBQ).

Joanna Jenkins said...

A LOG SPLITTER? Who knew there was even such a thing? I'm hoping there's a fireplace at your house? And while I'm thinking of it, I have a big, half dead tree in our yard that I'd gladly "donate" for practice. Come and get it!

VERY funny post!!!!! I'll be back again soon.

Liz {Learning To Juggle} said...

Oh I can relate. You should see the tools on hubby's wish list. Although a forest dweller/wood stove user like myself finds the idea of a wood splitter heavenly (seriously....I can wield a chainsaw but the ax is still a bit much for me) and an outdoor oven....oh how wonderful would that be!!

Unknown said...

I'm diggin the pizza oven!

Kelly Deneen Raymond said...

First of all, I so wish we could drink together at a party. ha!

Second of all, that pizza oven makes me drool!!!!! :)

The Blonde Duck said...

Bigger is always better in Texas.

Meg said...

What is it with you California people and your outdoor pizza ovens? My BFFs bought a house with one in Mtn View.

Better yet...why don't I live in the Bay Area?

Grand Pooba said...

Ok wait, you have an outdoor pizza oven? for shiz? Ok, you had me at red wine but this is icing on the cake, I'm definately coming for a visit!

A log splitter? Really? I hope you make him park HIS car outside of the garage for that thing!

Anonymous said...

Geez, such a hard decision. I would totally go w/ the pizza oven!

Jennifer said...

*sigh* My husband has been asking for a welding machine since the day we started dating. The last thing I need is another huge, unused machine sitting in my garage! LOL!

Carin Davis said...

Outdoor pizza oven is a win for EVERYONE!!!!!! It is brilliant!

Technodoll said...

LOL LOL! Are you guys fans of the Red Green show??

you can google it if you don't know the show... or youtube is even better, here's one for your husband! LOL

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-Lnfpulwjc

Paging Doctor Mommy said...

Did you come up with these on your own, or are these actually items on your husband's wish list?!?! Regardless, my hubby would probably want every single one of them as well!

Unknown said...

Now, I could go for the pizza oven.....that's pretty cool! Can I come over for a pizza night??

Unknown said...

Seriously? A log splitter? Are there even trees in San Francisco? Maybe he is dreaming of building a log cabin in Napa?

He & Me + 3 said...

Ok, those gifts were just outrageous...except of course the outdoor pizza oven. YUM! Delivery? No it's Digiorno. it will totally be better than delivery.
Good luck buying that!

Deb said...

How funny that I should read this after a Sven barbecue. That's when we have steak, shrimp, roasted potatoes, grilled asparagus, some weird salad, and dessert before we beach ourselves.

Helene said...

My first reaction to the log splitter thingie was "where on earth would you need that in SFO??"

The pizza oven is actually something I might say "hmmmm, yeah, that may work" but I could never see my husband wanting something like that because he can't even boil water for mac-n-cheese. See, he's a total computer nerd so he's more into all the high-tech (read: expensive) techie kinda stuff. My attitude is if it's ONE MORE remote control that I have to learn how to function than it cannot enter our home.

How funny that you had been wondering about my kids' blonde hair!! I get asked that a lot. It actually comes from my husband's side of the family.

AiringMyLaundry said...

My husband would LOVE that pizza oven. Pizza is one of the few things he'll eat without complaining.

Molly said...

That looks like a great list! You better clean out the garage and make some serious room!

amanda said...

okay. so my hubby would really love the welder. lol. i'm so serious it's not even funny. but i'll come over with erica for pizza. please? :0)

Mrsbear said...

Ha! My husband has a welder which he has indeed used...mostly to weld stuff for OTHER people when he could be, oh I dunno, mowing the yard, painting the house, remodeling my bathroom. Something useful! Who me? No, I'm not bitter. The pizza oven, whoa, all kinds of awesome.

Mainly a midwife said...

My hubby likes having his own tools. I happily oblige him but I never considered the welder :)

peewee said...

outdoor? Pizza oven? I mean, won't like spiders and stuff crawl in there?

peewee said...

outdoor? Pizza oven? I mean, won't like spiders and stuff crawl in there?

peewee said...

um, do you know that EVERYWHERE I go I am all "hey! I should get that for francesca!" Or "hmmmm...does she DRINK coffee? should I get her that cute brooklyn mug? and and....some of my favorite coffee?" or "mmm...this is the cutest chocolate store....does Francesca like dark or milk?" " is Francesca allergic to peanut butter?"

and so on....I think you need to do a "FIFTY FUN FACTS about FRANCESCA"

I'll be waiting for it.

Sabrina said...

THanks for stopping by my blog! Which is quite coincidental because I was just thinking, gosh it's been awhile since i've stopped by TBBC's blog. :)

If i were a guy I would totally be all over the welding set... the possibilities are endless!

And Im NEVER the girl who talks\laughs too loud, drinks too much at a party, Oh no NEVER, not me! ;)

Jo said...

My hubby would be thrilled to have a welder again. He actually knows how to weld, so it isn't as silly as it sounds. Sign me up for hubby's who can cook pizza, I would be all over that one. My husband can finally make Hamburger Helper, pizza is a long way off, unless it just involves picking up the phone.

Kailey said...

I haven't parked my car in the garage for about two years! The garage is for the hot rods. I don't mind, I didn't have a garage before I got married, so I'm used to it.

And he had a welder when we got married (of course, that's what he did for a living! :-)), plus a huge air compressor and an engine stand.

I can't complain, really. They all get a lot of use.

Unknown said...

Ooo! I love that outdoor pizza oven!

Kimmy said...

LOL..I share your lack of enthusiasm for men's ideas of gifts. One word really....Boooooring!! lol I do however like the outdoor wood burning oven!

Dumb Mom said...

Great ideas! Unfortunately (or perhpas fortunately since I like to park in the garage) my husband does not require a welder, a log splitter, or any other manual labor related item b/c he would wholeheartedly refuse to use such items were they available. I'm not sure if that's b/c he's lazy, uninterested, or uneducated in those ways, but the fact that we don't own them allows him to save himself the embarrassment of admitting his low aptitude when it comes to "man" things. Love him anyway! Almost as much as I love your blog:)

BonBon Rose Girls Kristin said...

That pizza oven is sweeeeeeeeet.

Amy said...

I think my husband would want the pizza oven for sure. It looks wonderful. Have a great weeekend.

Tabitha Blue said...

Ohhhh, a welder??!! Hahah, I do love the pizza oven though!! Fun list.


:)
~Tabitha

Ps, hope you join in on Sunday Citar tomorrow!!

Lady of Perpetual Chaos said...

Love the pizza oven. And I think my husband might go for most of those gifts. I think my favorite is the BBQ. The log splitter is great though because you obviously have some serious deforesting to do in that there Bay Area. ;o)

Sarah said...

Lol! My hubby would love the welder, and would probably get a kick out of the log splitter (but in our case, we are in a well forested area!).

Actually, hubby may have a welder...seems like he does (I try to stay oblivious to these things). I remember himm not wearing the proper eye protection once (d'oh!) and getting "flashed" or whatever it's called. He hasn't made that mistake again.

The outdoor pizza thing looks cool though!

SE'LAH... said...

fantastic...homemade pizza rock. i imagine it tastes so yummy. the roasted taste of fire. hmmmm

p.s. sorry i've been on a hiatus francesca. haven't been feeling well but i have surely missed visiting here.

WILLOW TREE said...

I wish I had something funny or witty to say, but I'm laughing too hard and just grateful for it. :)

Blessings,
C~

NovelTeaMommy said...

It took me years, but I was finally able to discredit my husbands degree from "Bigger IS Better". But that outdoor pizza oven has me rethinking all my efforts. We can live without the garage, right?

Let me get back to you on that one.

theUngourmet said...

That is fabulous! I would love to have one. You could make a different pizza every night. Why, you could have a pizza blog! Wow! Just think of the possibilities!!

Thanks for the compliments over my way today!

Couture Carrie said...

That's some serious gear! Loooove the pizza oven!

xoxox,
CC

Nana said...

That's a man for ya. Papa wants a smoker, you know for meat. I found one, but it's not big enough. He wants to build his own. Yeah right.

I haven't been at the top of my game as far as my blog goes. My get up and go seems to have got up and left. So it is not you fault Fran that we haven't heard from each other lately.

Jen said...

those are fantastic ideas. ;)

Anonymous said...

I thought when I gave in to my husband's lifelong want of a Harley that that would be the end of it.

Nope.

Do you have any idea how much extra crap you can do to a Harley?!

The amount of accessories, clothing and otherwise that can be purchased?

Forget about parking in the garage. One half is for the bike, the other half is for crap we can't fit in the house.

Although I'm pretty sure it's safer than a log splitter and a welding machine.

At least I've got that on my side.

Anonymous said...

haha, I would agree the pizza one is pretty cool and actually so is the welder. I am sure I could have fun with that one too but the log splitter? What is the need for that?

Julie said...

I left an award for you on my blog. If you're interested, come pick it up :)

Jen - Balancing Beauty and Bedlam said...

I'll take the pizza oven any day...how fun! :)

Kristina P. said...

How did I miss this post? I also recommend a box of Extenze. According to the commercials that come on at midnight, it makes dads very happy.

Randi Troxell said...

actually im with you and want my very own outdoor pizza oven... i bet that would be so cool! and hey.. we have a homemade bbq... very cool, really! love to make smores by it too!

Eric said...

MMMMMmm Pizza... pizza.is.good.

:)

tiarastantrums said...

okay this cracked me up and totally made me think of my dad - he had this HUGE welding machine AND he made his very own log splitter that I had to run for many many summers AND he made this grill that he used to grill the bEST chicken ever one - my mouth is watering right now thinking about it!

tiburon said...

Bigger is always better - just ask my butt.

I want that pizza oven!

Heather said...

When me and my friends were in our early 20's we had a huge cookout, we had every kind of protein represented, burgers, chops, venison, calamari, etc. etc. We only had one or two grills, so we fashioned one out of an old tire rim. Worked great!

rychelle said...

bigger is better.

*that's what she said*

sorry, i couldn't help myself. :)