Father’s Day is right around the corner and we’re looking forward to celebrating our favourite guys, hopefully with a day of blue skies, backyard barbecues, and beers. But most importantly we want the dads in our lives – whether they be our husbands, our own fathers, or in-laws – to know just how loved and appreciated they are! I’d say most men (like Craig) are pretty simple and don’t seem to want for much. Craig always insists he “doesn’t need anything,” but I just can’t let the day go by without spoiling him. The team and I have rounded up what we think would make awesome guy-approved gifts, taken from our own husbands’ wish lists or that come fully endorsed by our favourite set of dads. But of course – a hot coffee in bed, a chance to relax and catch the game, or a day-off from cutting the lawn or dragging out the garbage, are all little extras that go a long way in making dad smile.

Bodum French press coffee maker. We absolutely love coffee from our French press and look forward to our morning cup of joe each day. We have the copper press but the chrome press can easily compliment any kitchen décor.

Wooden Chess Set. This wooden collector’s edition is a great way for dad to bond with the kiddos over a fun & skilled game. It’s even nice enough to leave out without sacrificing moms home decor and we love that it is made of wood and not plastic. I guess we can call this gift a gift for the entire family, there is even a great Collector’s Wooden Connect Four Set too! 

Asobu Black & Copper Travel Mug. Our husbands love their travel mugs for morning coffee or keeping drinks cold in the backyard! The Asobu’s insulated travel mug keeps beverages cold for up to 24 hours and hot for up to 6 hours. Its stainless steel double-walled construction won’t retain odours or impart flavours, while its slim design fits into most cup holders.

Gingham button down shirt. I can’t resist Craig in his classic button downs, he’s just too handsome and I still swoon. The styles from J.Crew are Craig’s favourites and I can’t resist gingham!

Google Home. For all the tech loving dads, a Google Home device is a must! Craig is definitely gadget obsessed and after months still gives ours his official seal of approval. There is even a Google Home mini now, find it {here}.

Harry’s Winston razor set. Harry’s is one of our favourite companies and we love what they’re all about – our guys agree too! You can sign up for their “shave plans” which significantly nicks (pun intended!) the cost of razors and shaving supplies. The “Winston” set is classic and sleek, and the razor can even be personalized.

Letters To Dad. The cutest notepad full of heartfelt notes to dad makes it easy for children of many ages-from tween to adult-to show Dad how much they care. Once filled out, sealed, and postdated, the letters become handwritten time capsules to give to Dad for Father’s Day, holidays, or milestone birthdays. When he breaks open the seals in the future, he will find a priceless keepsake.

Dji Drone. Speaking of gadgets – Craig is still geeking out over his Dji Mavic Drone he got last year – if your guy is into this kind of stuff – this is the drone we recommend and it’s currently on sale too!

Pizza Camp. Hands down, the best pizza cookbook! With revolutionary tips and tricks for getting insanely delicious gourmet pizza at home, if your man knows his way around the kitchen (insert our slow clap here!) then you need to add this book to your cookbook library! Another favourite of ours that the kids and I bought for Craig last year is the Market Cooking: Recipes & Revelations Cookbook by David Tanis. Maybe pair your cookbooks with some BBQ tools, a Stainless Steel Pizza Peel or a quirky Canadian apron? This one is my favourite, especially since we are a total Hockey family! 

Swim shorts. Long live summer! Now is the perfect time of year to grab a new swim suit for your guy before all the pool party invitations start rolling in. I am definitely snagging this bathing suit for Craig (you guys know I love a good palm print) because not only will it be handsome on him, it will be adorable on Noah, too! Father and son twinning, I can’t even handle it! Shop the mini version here.  

Crosley record player. Vinyl record players are definitely making a coming back! (Or maybe they never really left?) An old-school record player is such a great gift for any music enthusiast, Craig loves ours that I got him a few years back. And don’t forget the records – two of our all-time favourite albums: Bob Marley and The Wailers and the Beatles.

Fitbit Watch. Get dad a watch that gives you more with Fitbit Ionic—a motivating & stylish timepiece packed with fitness guidance, health insights, music storage, apps & more. Built in GPS, dynamic personal coaching, built-in GPS, water resistant and SO much more!

The Coffee Mug. Traditional and always appreciated by any dad sipping his am brew. We are loving the mugs we’ve linked to below for dad but we’re especially fond of this one that says “If I Wasn’t The Best Dad Why Would I Have This Mug?”. Or this one that says “Go Ask Your Mother”!

Ella and Noah just love being involved when it comes to spoiling a special person in their lives or surprising someone with a random act of kindness – from homemade cards and crafts, to a batch of cookies or a decorated birthday cake, they’re always up for the task. And Father’s Day is absolutely no exception! We’ve already picked out a few things that we are excitedly planning on gifting Craig but I knew the kids would want a hand in creating something extra special for him. Since becoming a dad nearly six years ago, Craig has amassed a pretty impressive collection of sentimental (read: homemade) gifts from both of the kids – cards showcasing little handprints, #1 Dad mugs, homemade picture frames, and even handmade ties for days at the office. So this year, I tried to get creative. My hope was that we could put together a gift made by Ella and Noah for Craig (and the grandpas of the family) that was actually useful. (That is not to say that paper ties with scraps of fabric can’t translate to modern professional on casual Fridays in the office – ha!) Since Craig is a total lover of the grill and is always in charge of the barbeque when we’re eating al fresco, I decided to help the kids put together a chef’s grilling apron and our favourite homemade barbecue sauce to be used throughout the summer months! We think this is a simple and practical gift for the special dads in your life, and one that is made with so much love! You could even pair it with grill side apron like this one.

Spicy Bourbon Barbecue Sauce

 

• 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped

• 1½ cups of ketchup

• ½ cup of molasses

• 2 tablespoons of bourbon whiskey

• 2 teaspoons of finely chopped chipotle peppers in adobe sauce

• 1 teaspoon of Sriracha sauce

• Pinch of salt and pepper

 

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.

In a glass or oven-proof dish, whisk together all of the ingredients until fully incorporated. Cook in oven for 30 minutes. Check seasoning and, if desired, add more salt and pepper to taste. Set aside to cool, then refrigerate in an airtight container.

We hope you guys enjoyed this post in preparation for Father’s Day, it’s this Sunday so if you order any last minute stuff today or go in stores you will still have time! Or make the delicious homemade barbecue sauce for dad.