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!*

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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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]