Father’s Day Gift Guide & Giveaway for the Well-Rounded Dad
While much progress has been made in erasing the stereotype of clueless, styleless, one-dimensional dads, the old tropes seem to come back in full force each Father’s Day… Tie. Recliner. Grill. Power Tools. Yawn.
Designer Daddy is here to help you shop for the men in your life (or yourself) this Father’s Day, with something for each facet of the engaged, enlightened, well-rounded dad.
Also, YOU CAN WIN THIS ENTIRE LIST OF STUFF! Just enter the contest widget thingie at the bottom of the post (where it says “ENTER TO WIN,”) and on June 15th I’ll announce the lucky winner of…
The Designer Daddy
Father’s Day Gift Guide & Giveaway
for the Well-Rounded Dad
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THE EYES HAVE IT: Whether you’re surfing in Maui, biking cross-country or tooling around in a minivan full of munchkins, nothing says you’ve got it under control (or hides the fact that you don’t) like a good pair of shades. Hobie, long known for their surf wear, also has an extensive line of seriously slick sunglasses. Check me out sporting 3 different pair — which is your favorite? I know they all make me look fly, so how could you possibly choose? Available on Hobie’s web site or at Sports Authority. $70-$190
GIVEAWAY PRIZE: 1 pair of Hobie Polarized sunglasses, any style (winner to choose from web site or catalog).
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ACQUIRE SOME TASTE: Every once in a while I’ll get an urge to try something new at dinnertime, but am quickly overwhelmed by my options. Should I crack open one of our myriad of cookbooks? Riffle through the mountain of recipes I’ve collected over the years? Look on the Internet?!? Typically I get paralyzed with confusion and revert to an old, boring stand-by.
Luckily I’ve found some help getting over the ho-hum hump lately with Just Cook rubs and spice blends. Flavors like Herbed Coffee, Ancho Chicken and Taco Night are concocted and packaged in sleek, black tins that make even the most amateur chef look sophisticated. And oh yeah, they make your food taste incredible. We’ve already experimented with Close to Curry and Any Day Chicken, and can’t wait to try the rest. Their web site features quite a few out-of-the-box recipe ideas. Available at West Elm, select Safeway stores and from Just Cook’s web site. $8.50 for individual flavors. $45 for a 6-Pack sampler.
GIVEAWAY PRIZE: Just Cook Try Them All sampler pack including 6 different rubs & spice blends.
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SOUND ADVICE: Remember when you would wile away the hours discovering new music? If you or your man is like me, nowadays you’re lucky if you get 5 minutes of silence until you begrudgingly play the Frozen soundtrack for the eightybazillionth time.
Aussie native Chet Faker is a great musical find and a soothing remedy for all things Disney or KidzBop. I first heard Faker on his downbeat, husky-voiced cover of “No Diggity.” He’s been building a name for himself both in the US and abroad over the last few years, and just released his debut album Built On Glass.
While he’s shoehorned into the “electronic” category on iTunes, his music and lyrics are rich with soul and emotion. Built On Glass is part blues, part jazz, part indie; has flavors of Ray Lamontagne and Rufus Wainwright; and is, in places, pure poetry. The track “Cigarettes & Loneliness” was recently named one of the 24 Songs Every Man Should Listen To in 2014 by Esquire Magazine.
My favorite (and the closest to electronica the album gets) is “1998″ — watch the chill/trippy video below. Available for download on iTunes $9.99; CD or vinyl at Amazon $13.91/$25.98
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GIVEAWAY PRIZE: 1 CD or vinyl of Built On Glass.
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HEAD-TO-TOE MAINTENANCE: Washing your face, body and hair with the same bar of cheap soap may have been enough in college, but now you’re a dad — which means you’re older, and hopefully, wiser. But with age comes increasingly dryer skin, an ever encroaching forehead and parenting-induced wear-and-tear on your previously toned and sturdy exterior. Dove Men+Care brings the reliable Dove brand to men who want to take care of themselves without shelling out high-end department store prices.
Clean-smelling but not overly scented, Dove Men+Care products get the job done. Pay a little extra attention to your body now and it will thank you further down the road. Available at all major drug stores, prices vary.
GIVEAWAY PRIZE: Aqua Impact Fortifying Shampoo, Hydrate Face Lotion, Hydrate Face Wash, Extra Fresh Body and Face Wash and Fresh Awake Antiperspirant/Deodorant.
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PAMPER THE FAMILY JEWELS: Walter White was one of the most fascinating TV fathers of all time, yet had some severely misguided paternal instincts… and even worse taste in underwear. Dads, it’s time to lose the saggy dad drawers.
Treat yourself (and your partner) to Tani Underwear. They’re soft but not silky; light yet supportive; sexy without being creepy…or mesh. Long popular in Europe, Tani boxers, briefs, boxer briefs and tees will be available for the first time in Nordstrom stores across the US this Father’s Day. Available on Tani’s web site and coming soon to Nordstrom. $40-$195
GIVEAWAY PRIZE: 1 item (underwear or shirt) from the Tani web site or catalog.
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READING IS FUNDADMENTAL: You’ve cleaned yourself up, put on new undies, had a good meal and listened to some great tunes. Now take some time to stimulate your brain, warm your heart and tickle your funny bone with these books from three great authors and awesome dads!
The Parents’ Phrase Book by Whit Honea is packed to the gills with fatherly wit and wisdom on the topics of discipline, playing fair, life and death, and much, much more. Whit is one of my favorite writers — even his advice on tattletales and nose-picking is eloquent. Dad’s Book of Awesome Science Experiments is Mike Adamick’s follow up to Dad’s Book of Awesome Projects, and features even more fun, adventure and learnin’. Make rock candy crystals, dye flowers in every color of the rainbow, build a rocket fueled by Mentos and Diet Coke… what dad doesn’t want to always be the smartest guy their kid ever knows? Mommy Man by Jerry Mahoney is the story of a mild-mannered geek and his journey to becoming a gay Superdad. (Hey, that sounds kinda familiar!) Brutally honest and chock full of emotion and humor, Mommy Man is a great read for anyone considering becoming a dad, anyone who is a dad, or anyone anywhere who likes sweet, funny stories about awesome people. All titles available on Amazon (as bound book or Kindle version) or on iTunes. $9.99 – $24.95
GIVEAWAY PRIZE: Autographed copy of The Parents’ Phrase Book, Dad’s Book of Awesome Science Experiments, and Mommy Man.
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So, you said something about WINNING all this stuff? Just enter the contest widget below — there a bunch of ways to get extra entries, but your best chance is to tell me which things you’re most excited to give/buy in the comments section of this post.
And even if you don’t win, you should definitely check out all these awesome products. I’ve tested, tasted, read or worn them all, and they all get the Designer Daddy Seal of Approval!*
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*Okay, that’s not really a thing — but if you know me, you know how picky I am, so it’s something.
[Disclaimer: Thank you to all the brands for providing samples for me to review, and for generously participating in this giveaway. But rest assured dear readers — I only recommend products or services I have personally used and believe you would enjoy. All opinions are mine and/or JJ's]
Awesome giveaway! I desperately need a new pair of sunglasses!
Great list of gear, Brent. Spice rubs and sunglasses ftw!
Great giveaway! I think the spices look great.
Love the spice rubs… But wouldn’t turn down the sunglasses or the underwear! Also need to add to my collection of Daddy books!
I’m always on the lookout for some cool new shades, and if I can get a pair so I can look just like Designer Daddy, that’s a bonus! Twinsies!
Awesome contest! Well done, Brent.
I can’t remember the last time I owned sunglasses! I need those sunglasses! Must have sunglasses!!!
What?? Books and undies…what could be better? Thanks for the opportunity!
Great line up, Brent. Awesome job! I like spices, my underwear is always in tatters and books rule. These things are all unrelated, I think…
Count me in.
I’ve used those spices before! Would love them again.
I always like a good rub, spice it up bro!
I need a new pair of sunglass really bad and since I’m the bbq-er in the family, the spices would be a great addition to my summer cooking!! But really, who can turn down sexy undies!
Oh man, all of it looks great. I think the spices would probably be most appreciated by my hubby, but I would love to give him the Dove line.
I want those spices!!
Amazing you always pick things I’ve never even heard of!
Those sunglasses are pretty spiffy.
Awesome list I hope the giveaway is new underwear and not used! The spices and books look sweet send me my way
Those are pretty sweet sunglasses. I’m wondering how many lbs of bacon I need to send to you to win them.
Love the glasses
The spices would be a huge hit in our house!
Great giveaway Brent. Sad that I’m most excited about the underwear.
$60 pair of underwear is what I want!
Most excited about the stunner shades, man! What’re you a designer or something? This giveaway post is gawjus!
Rad swag and a top notch presentation of it. doing those brands proud, I tell you!
The new daddy in our house would love anything! Probably most of all the sunglasses and the dove line! He really deserves an awesome FIRST father’s day. Thanks for testing and bringing us this list of great stuff!
Chet Faker is awesome! I was turned on to him awhile ago by a colleague in Melbourne, AU and recently blogged about him in a company thread for my US office. His grooves are perfect for summertime lounging with friends as the sun sets while drinking Tinchos. You can check out a live DJ set he did from a rooftop in MEL- http://youtu.be/veCnQve0rqc. Get into it!
I’m excited about the Tani underwear, that’s something my husband could use
demureprincess7(at)gmail(dot)com
I’d love to win the spices. Or the sunglasses. My wife has a pair of polarized glasses and she sees the world in an entirely different way than me. I think it’s because of the glasses, but I need a pair of my own to be sure.
Awesome collection of giveaways! Thanks!
I’m most excited about the spice rubs.
My husband would enjoy the sunglasses. He usually just buys a cheap pair from a gas station so he would appreciate that pair.
I’m most excited about the Hobie’s
Thanks!!
My hubby would love the Dove Men+Care line of products and definitely the Just Cook rubs and spices!
Father’s Day is right around the corner. Wouldn’t it be cool to have a Mamalode for DADS? We do! It’s called Dadalode, and it features some of our best dad stories. 32 pages. Ad-free and awesome.
http://www.magcloud.com/browse/issue/757548?__r=507831
What a fantastic list of gifts! My dad is the perfect well-rounded guy, he’d love everything on here – especially the spice rub sampler pack, there’s nothing he loves more than trying out new flavours on the BBQ! Fingers crossed!
Thanks for the giveaway! It would be so fun to gift these all to my husband. He would be most excited about the spices and the CD…we’re both music lovers!
the dove hair care
All products used, worn, tested, etc. huh? If I win the underwear can I get an used and unworn pair?
LOL. I assume you meant “unused” and unworn? And yes, I’ll make an exception just for you.
I’d LOVE the Just Cook sampler pack!!
I REALLY want all the Dad books!
I’m most excited about the sunglasses since I really don’t own a good pair.
I love the sunglasses
I am excited to have my dad grill and try some of the Just Cook Rub spices!
Dad’s Book of Awesome Science Experiments
Hey there! Thanks so much for the chance! My hubby would be stoked if I won the Hobie Polarized Sunglasses… he’s always fishin’ & those would step up his redfish game, hehe! Happy Father’s Day to you!
Would love to win the sunglasses.
I’d like to try the Just Cook Spice Blends
The sunglasses would be so cool to win!
Everything you list is cool. PPllleeeaaassseee pick me. (in the immortal words of Roger Rabbit) (or perhaps Jessica…)
I already have a copy, but I just have to say that Jerry Mahoney’s “Mommy Man” is HYSTERICALLY funny.
I’d love the seasoning spices sampler and the sunglasses.
Wow! This looks great! I’ve only ever done giveaways from local businesses. Exciting stuff!
I can see myself using the spice rubs at the grill with those Hobie shades on.
I have to agree with many people in the group I want those sunglasses!
Ahh, the quintessential sunglasses….it’s time to look cool again!
Ohhh, please, please may I have those cool shades?! Must look cool, again!
The rub and glasses both sound perfect!
The spices for sure! My dad loves to cook.
The spices. Gonna do some grilling.
Dad’s book of awesome science experiments
My husband would love the Tani underwear
My boyfriend said he would love the Dove Men+Care products, especially the deodorant. Thank you.