On My Radar: Father’s Day Gifts

Hey hey! I’m coming at you today with another On My Radar post. Since Father’s Day is just a couple weeks away, I’m talking all about perfect FD gifts. But before we get into that, let me give you a quick back story on my relationship with my dad. 

Growing up, I was always a daddy’s girl. I wasn’t very girly, so I loved spending time with my dad and doing sporty things. We went to every nearby park, played wiffle ball and watched hockey on TV. 

There are a few memories with my dad that really stand out in my mind. They are really random, but whatever. First, I remember that my dad would take the trolley home from work, and I would run down the street around 6pm every single day to meet him at the corner. It was the highlight of my day, and I’d wait on our porch until I could see him a few block away. I also remember one time when I had to interview my dad for a class project. I asked him about all of his favorite things, and found out that his favorite color was red. Well, guess what color I decided was my favorite too? Yep. Red. 

I looked up to him a lot. 

My dad is hardworking and puts every one before himself. And… he’s DIFFICULT TO SHOP FOR! I’m not kidding. Every year, I ask him what he wants for Father’s Day, and he tells me the same thing. “Just be good, Nic.” I always follow it up with, “Dad, I’m not 5. If you don’t tell me what you want, I’ll just go buy something that I think you’ll like.” Then he’ll laugh, and say OK. It’s a yearly thing at this point.

I know he doesn’t want me spending money on a present, so he won’t tell me something he actually needs. So I’m on my own to scour the Internet for a cool but practical gift. If your dad is as vague about presents as my dad is, here are some suggestions! 

1. A Digital Camera: I bought my dad a digital camera a few years ago for Father’s Day, and he still talks about how great it is.

2. Beer Mugs: If your dad likes to drink beer, these Williams Sonoma beer mugs are the perfect gift. According to the WS website, they are durable enough to store in the freezer! Bryan has a set of these mugs and uses them all the time. 

3. Fashion-forward Tie: My dad couldn’t care less about fashion, but if your dad dresses up a lot for work and social events, this Burberry tie is a classic staple that I’m sure he’ll love. 

4. BBQ Set: This just screams Father’s Day to me. Agree? It’s a gift that he’ll use a LOT this summer if he likes to cook. 

5. Shaving Kit: The Art of Shaving is such a high quality brand. Bryan’s been using their stuff for years, and has given it the manly stamp of approval. LOL. I’m actually thinking about getting a set this year for my dad. He doesn’t pamper himself too often, so I think this will be a nice treat. 

6. Leather Wallet: What guy couldn’t use a new wallet? I’ve gotten my dad one for Christmas and by Father’s Day it was already a mess. In my opinion, if you know the type of wallet your dad likes {bi-fold, tri-fold, simple card case}, you can’t go wrong. It’s the most practical gift ever. 

7. Work Bag: This is great for carrying all the essentials your dad needs for work. Although it’s a little pricey, Fossil is a reputable leather brand, so you know you’re getting a high-quality bag. 

8. Headphones: My dad listens to music ALL.THE.TIME, so these Bose headphones are a great gift for him. I actually think he might own a pair – or at least something similar from Beats. If your dad likes to zone out and listen to music, podcasts, TV shows, whatever… definitely consider getting him a pair!

9. Multi-tool: Oh, the manliest gift of all. Bryan uses his Leatherman multi-tools {yes, he has a few…} for everything. As dumb as I think it is, it IS very useful! It’s like basically carrying a tool chest in your pocket.