Tips for a Stress Free Father’s Day

Each year for Father’s Day we do the same thing – whatever my dad wants. It’s a day to celebrate him, so he chooses what we do and it’s usually the same thing every year. We end up cooking out and enjoying the day together. Nothing too crazy, just a day filled with fun and family. With so many holidays throughout the year (not including birthdays), it can be overwhelming. It seems that there is always so much going on that we always need to outdo ourselves, which isn’t how we should look at these holidays. I’m on a mission to make these holidays simple without losing the reason why we’re celebrating. With Father’s Day around the corner, I’m going to share how I’m making Father’s Day stress free this year. 

Simplicity is key. Pinterest is one of my favorite time sucks, but I think that is adds a lot of complication into my (and others) life. It’s a place that makes you feel like you’re never doing enough. For instance, I will be making cupcakes for dessert then I look on Pinterest and someone is making Crab Cupcakes. There is nothing wrong with going above and beyond but I think that many people forget that whatever you are doing or making is enough. You don’t have to stay up all night or spend lots of money to make Father’s day perfect. Are you going above and beyond for him or for yourself? 

Give dad what he wants. This is a day all about your dad (or husband), don’t forget that! Before making plans for the day, ask yourself, “Will he want to do this or will he like the plans?” Make sure you are just planning something that he will enjoy. If he is the type of guy who likes to relax and watch movies, let him do just that! 

Don’t stress out. Planning the day can be stressful, only if you allow it. A well thought out plan will help with the stress. I like to write all the plans out of the day on paper. Here are a few things to think about; What are your plans for food? (Are you eating out? Cooking?), What did you buy him? (Do you still need to look for a gift from you? from the kids?),  What plans do you have for the day? (Are yall staying at home? Going to the movies?).

Be thankful. I’m incredibly thankful for all that I have but sometimes I don’t realize really how thankful I should be. This goes for most people, we don’t spend the time to think about all that we are fortunate to have and encounter. Take a few minutes out of your day and think about all the great things in your life. It’s amazing how your attitude will change. On Father’s Day, be sure to tell him “Thank You.” Not only will it make you feel good, it’s something he needs to hear from you.

Always eat dessert. No, you don’t have to eat a whole cake or even finish the cupcake that you started. Desserts are usually associated with happy, good feelings so end your Father’s Day celebration with some sweets. Take this time to say your thank yous and make it a tradition in your household. Trust me, your life will be changed. 

This year we celebrated Father’s Day a little early and it was flawless. I was sure to incorporate all 5 tips of a stress free Father’s Day. The first thing that I did was ordered my Father’s Day meal from Omaha Steaks. They are having a deal that I couldn’t pass up on. The Omaha Steaks Exclusive Pack for The Home Depot included: 

• 2 (8 oz.) Boneless Strip

• 2 (5 oz.) Top Sirloins 

• 8 (3 oz.) Polish Sausages

• 8 (3 oz.) Italian Sausages

• 4 (4 oz.) Omaha Steaks Burgers

• 4 (3 oz.) Gourmet Jumbo Franks

• $3.oo Coupon off Kingsford Charcoal at Home Depot

• PLUS, one $10 Home Depot Gift Card

It’s regularly $175.00, but they are having a sale and I only paid $69.99. The total price of $69.99 included shipping and I received my package within 4 days.  Ordering from Omaha Steaks was a huge accomplishment for me since food is usually the one thing that I seem to worry about the most. My meat arrived in a cooler that was packed with dry ice which was great. The meat was individually wrapped which allowed me me to pick and choose what exactly I was going to cook. I cooked about half of what I ordered and I was able to feed 6 people with leftovers. 

I purposely made the menu simple. I made things that I already knew how to make and I made sure that everything consisted on simple ingredients. (I hate having to buy ingredients or spices that I will only use once.) The steaks and sausages weren’t going to take a lot of time so I did a lot of prep work to make sure everything would be ready about the same time. I was already starving before we started dinner so I roasted Kale chips to snack on while I was cooking. 

To make roasted kale, I preheat the oven at 400 degrees. While the oven is preheating, I rinse and dry the kale. I cut the Kale into half and toss lightly in Olive Oil and sea salt. After tossing and evenly coating the kale, I sprinkle with lemon juice. Place on a cookie sheet covered in foil and bake approximately 35 minutes. Check the kale about half way through roasting and toss. I like to add a little spice to my kale so I sprinkle on cheyenne pepper to bring the flavor up a notch. 

Baked potatoes were put on the grill long before I started cooking, since they take so long. I usually grill them for about an hour so make sure you plan accordingly. There have been many times I’ve forgotten to put the potatoes on early enough which puts a damper on all your dinner timing. 

Zucchini & Squash Bake is a simple way to cook veggies. I like to make this dish because I can put it on the over and forget about it while I cook other items. To make this delicious dish, preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Slice 2 squash, 2 zucchinis and a tomato.  Grease the bottom of a small pan, I used a glass bread loaf plan. Then place each of vegetable inside the pan in whatever pattern you would like. I ended up with a lot more squash than other veggies so I put squash in between each veggies. No matter how you do it, it will still taste great! Once they were all in the pan, sprinkle with olive oil, sea salt and thyme. Bake for approximately 25 minutes. 

Next on my menu was the main course, our Omaha steaks! I sprinkled them lightly with a steak seasoning and put them on the grill to cook. 

We all anxiously waited for the steaks to be done. They not only looked delicious, but smelled amazing too. 

The steaks turned out perfect. We had some very happy guests, to say the least. To quote my father in law, “My meal was nutritious and delicious.” I completely agree with him, everything went off without a hitch and dinner DID taste delicious. 

Just in case you were wondering, dessert was served! I was going to bake an amazing cake that I found online but I ran out of time and ended up purchasing this gorgeous Chocolate Cake drenched with strawberries. 

I know I made the right choice by ordering Omaha Steaks for Father’s Day. Not only did I make everyone in my family happy and full, I also received a $10 Home Depot gift card. The Home Depot gift card is perfect to buy Kingsford Charcoal to grill out or to give to your dad for Father’s Day. You will also receive a coupon for Kingsford Charcoal with the Omaha Steak deal that I bought. Head over to their website for complete details and to order your Father’s Day meal!

Tell me what you do to keep holidays stress free.