Father Christmas
After last week’s momstravaganza, I’m looking at Christmas gift ideas for dad. While they’re definitely geared toward a slightly more mature audience, that’s not to say you won’t find some inspiration for any of the guys on your shopping list. And…onwards!
Red Green’s Beginner’s Guide to Women: (For Men Who Don’t Read Instructions) – $29.95 (List)
Red Green is practically a Canadian institution at this point for the titular Red Green’s brand of hokey yet tongue-in-cheek sense of humour. If dad is a lifelong fan and has a duct tape wallet or two kicking around, he’ll enjoy getting wrapped up in laughter after opening this clever, goofy book. Truth be told, having paged through it myself (I’m not *quite* the target audience obviously), your MOM might be equally happy. Although the book is very much meant to be a parody of sorts, it also packs quite a few smart little gems and life lessons into the mix.
Orange Whip Trainer – $129.99 @ Golf Town
If your dad is like my dad (and many other dads), he is constantly looking for ways to improve his golf swing and really, overall game. The Orange Whip Trainer might just be the gadget he’s been looking for. The theory behind it is it forces you to focus on the rhythm and balance of your swing, as opposed to the point-by-point positions that many folks tend to get hung up on. The most amazing thing perhaps, is the fact it can be used in a very small space, year-round – a must for Canadian golfers for the majority of the year. Apparently it just takes 5-15 minutes of swing practice a day to get your golf game in top top shape.
Jack Daniel’s Sinatra Select – $299 (MSRP)
Ol’ Jack has teamed up with Ol’ Blue Eyes for a special Sinatra Select blend of the famed Tennessee whiskey. This is a pairing that’s actually got some history behind it – Sinatra was well-known for having a glass of Jack Daniels on stage with him while crooning away the night. This unique blend has been specially prepared by exposing the spirit to extra layers of toasted wood on the inside of the barrels they were aged in, which was then combined with Old No. 7 Tennessee Whiskey for a rich, oaky, spicy drink that finishes with a vanilla note that’s as sweet as Frank’s voice. Housed in an exclusively designed bottle and packaging, this collector’s piece is available in select stores throughout B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec (see link for details).
Prop Power – $19.99 @ Quirky
Where has this invention been all of your dad’s life? That’s what he’ll say after opening this way smart extension cord. Clocking in at 6 feet long, Prop Power easily wraps around your ladder so you can bring your key power tools to new heights when working on a DIY project at home. With 3 outlets and a bendable gooseneck, the idea here is to make it so you don’t have to unplug and replug every five seconds, plus you can get your tools close by where and when you need them. It also works for technical purposes – if say, for example, you want to keep your laptop’s power source handy, simply wrap the Prop Power around your desk leg and you’ll have easy access.
Still Foolin’ ‘Em: Where I’ve Been, Where I’m Going, and Where the Hell Are My Keys? by Billy Crystal – $29.99 (list)
You’ve loved to laugh alongside him for decades now – and beloved movie star and frequent Academy Awards host Billy Crystal isn’t afraid to show his age. In this charming collection of frank essays, Crystal talks candidly (and hilariously) about the downsides of growing up, or really, getting old. From dentistry to Sophia Loren, he’ll have dad guffawing at the blunt realities of being a twilight-yeared male, but also bring a smile to his face as he finds ways to relate to and reminisce with relate with this Hollywood legend. Filled with humour and heart in nearly equal parts, this is a great choice for any baby boomer that’s feeling their age, yet is still forever young at heart.
Calvin Klein Dark Obsession – $62 – $82 @ Hudson’s Bay
I don’t know about your dad, but mine loves collecting new colognes. Although my dad’s pretty adventurous when it comes to dabbing on new scents, I liked this particular option from Calvin Klein because it combines the old with the new – a reinvention of a quintessential scent crafted nearly 30 years ago from one of the original designers-turned-parfumers. This latest masculine incarnation is a little exotic yet also very warm and soothing – with international notes of Brazilian green mandarin, French clary sage, and Madagascar vanilla bean – the latter of which really rounds the scent out to give it that toasty feeling. One of the surprisingly scrumptious masculine undertones at play is also suede, to give this otherwise vanilla, woodsy scent a rugged cowboy aura.
Cufflinks – $40+ @ Cufflinks.com
While the idea of gifting dad a pair of cufflinks may seem pretty standard…the dizzying array of options at Cufflinks.com is seriously ANYTHING but standard. From precious stones to personal hobbies, 3D designs to multi-functional links (flash drive or rubber stamp anyone?) there is literally something for every shirt-and-tie wearing dad (including a line-up of wallets, tie bars, and other male accessories). To me, cufflinks are one of the few places Dad really gets to have some fun with his formal work wardrobe – it’s the equivalent of that fantastic clutch or statement necklace for a gal. And even if not every person notices, you can bet it’ll put a smile on his face every time he looks down and catches a glimpse of the amazing pair you picked out. As an aside, you can also pick up a limited number of the links at Hudson’s Bay.
Canadian Trail Snowshoes – $159.99 @ Canadian Tire
A Canadian-made product from a Canadian store for a beloved Canadian activity – what’s not to like? These lightweight aluminum snowshoes are a long way from their wood & hide ancestors, but no less practical. With ergonomic binding and sturdy Luxor buckles, I like the idea of snowshoes as a gift as an alternative to the ski junkie. If dad likes to head up to his winterized cottage, this is an activity he can rock pretty much throughout the winter – plus if for some reason he gets snowed in and mom really needs him to run to the corner for a carton of creamer, he can tread through the non-existent trails with ease.
Winter Cocktails: Mulled Ciders, Hot Toddies, Punches, Pitchers, and Cocktail Party Snacks – $24.95 (list)
I’ve heard time and again that as young men get older, they are surprised to find they have a taste for the upper crusty scotches, whiskies, cognacs and liqueurs that dominate their dad’s liquor cabinet. Although dad likely has his go-to drink sorted out by this point, that doesn’t mean he won’t be interested in dabbling with some twists on a classic – especially these recipes, designed to warm up your soul (and your body temperature). With over 100 recipes to choose from, you’ll likely to get to reap the rewards of this gift as dad makes everything from mulled wine to tea punch – photographed beautifully and relatively straightforward to take for a spin in your own household. Not only is it seasonally appropriate, it just feels festive.
Logitech Harmony Smart Control – $129.99 @ Best Buy
I put this on here because my dad has one and loves it. Being the tech lover / entertainment synchronizer that he is, I feel like he’s onto something, particularly for the older baby boomer set that is tired of fiddling with a million different remotes, but still loves having the devices that ‘need’ said remotes. This amazing device wirelessly syncs to virtually every device you’ve got set up – from your video game system to internet services like Netflix to your cable box, TV, Blu-Ray player and beyond. Not only is it easy to use and set up, it’ll also help dad declutter his man cave.
Because dads are awesome, I thought it might be nice to pull together an awesome prize package to celebrate the big man himself (not Santa, in this case). One lucky winner is going to score a Quirky Prop Power, a copy of Winter Cocktails, a bottle of Dark Obsession, a set of cufflinks (your choice, including Star Wars, Star Trek & DC Comics options), and a copy of Billy Crystal’s hilarious memoir Still Foolin’ ‘Em, for a total value of over $240. Want to win? Here’s how to enter:
1) Tell me in the comments below by December 11th: which of these gifts would most rock your dad’s boat (or your own)?
2) Entries are limited to one per person / per email address / per household (or more if you score bonus entries). A random draw will be conducted on or around December 12th to select the winners, who will have 48 hours to respond before another winner is chosen in their place.
3) Entries are limited to Canadians that have reached the age of majority in their province. Quebec is not eligible for this promotion.
4) Bonus Entries: Give a high five to the awesome partners on this post and earn yourself some bonus entries. Do any or all of the following, be sure to leave comment(s) with your activity (ies), and you’ll have more of a chance to win!:
Quirky – Follow Quirky on Twitter, tag them (and me @cdngiftguide) in a Tweet about the giveaway, leave a link to your Tweet below.
Winter Cocktails – Is published by Quirk Books and distributed by Random House of Canada, who you should follow on Twitter, tag them (and me) in a Tweet about the book, with a link to your Tweet below.
Calvin Klein Dark Obsession – Follow Calvin Klein on Twitter, tag them (and me) in a Tweet about the cologne, leave a link to your Tweet below.
Cufflinks.com – Follow them on Facebook, leave a comment about which links you’d most love to own, leave a link back to your comment (it can be done, Google it). Heads up: You may see a CGG-specific Cufflinks.com FB post – if you do, leave your comment there. If you don’t, their regular wall is just fine.
Still Foolin’ ‘Em – Is published by Raincoast Books, who you should like on Facebook and leave a comment about this title and why you’d like to read it, leaving a link back to your comment below.
5) Bonus Entries Part Deux: Want to score an extra 10 entries (max) into the draw? Pin as many of the items above as you’d like to relevant Pinterest boards (i.e. ‘gift ideas for men’ or ‘books’ / ‘sports’ etc. where appropriate) and you’ll earn one extra entry per pin.
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[…] see over the holidays I write a few guy-focused posts – one skews slightly older (Dad), one skews slightly younger (guy friends / brothers). This one is probably your most general […]
Canadian Gift Guide 
My dad would live the power prop since he’s always working on his house and cottage
The dad in this house would love the Canadian Trail Snowshoes and the Power Prop. These would rock his boat.
The snowshoes would be awesome! We still have the old school kind that people now hang on their walls!
Th snowshoes would be the hit for the Dad in this house. I could also see my brother enjoying the Red Green book – he’s a huge fan!
My Dad (and my husband) would love the prop power! It would be the best gift of the year….I’m going to have to pick a couple up…
The Prop Power by Quirky would make an awesome gift, very useful and different 😀
Hubby would love the Prop Power
My dad would love the Logitech Harmony Smart Control — like your dad!
Well, my father is deceased, but my husband would love the Jack Daniels lol
andrea_hockeygirl at hotmail dot com
andrea_hockeygirl at hotmail dot com
My Dad would love the wireless remote, because he’s forever deprogramming the one he’s got.
Calvin Klein’s Obsession would be ideal – I love the fragrance on my man.
My father passed away, but my husband and father of my children would love the Calvin Klein’s Dark Obsession
thanks
flower_child_23(at)hotmail(dot)com
My father would love the cologne he has random ones all over the house , always tryin new fragrances lol!
I think the snowshoes would be a hit with my husband.
I think my husband would appreciate the Jack Daniel’s Sinatra Select most!
My father passed away many years ago, but my husband would be happy with any of the gifts, especially the bottle of Jack Daniels Bourbon. He has liked it since discovering Mint Julips at the Kentucky Derby.
Calvin Klein’s Dark Obsession for my dad.
The Canadian Trails Snowshoes for sure!
I hope those orange pants are not included. Wow!
Jack Daniels Bourbon he would like
The Jack Daniels’ Sinatra Select would be great!
Jack Daniel’s Sinatra Select
It would have to be Billy Crystal’s memoir.
I would have to with the Logitech Harmony Smart control, thanks
Dark Obsession by Calvin Klein mmmmm what a wonderful prize and thanks for the contest
While I think my dad would enjoy almost all the gifts on this list I think his favorite would be the Orange Whip Trainer
My husband would love the Jack Daniel’s Sinatra Select.
Would love the Logitech Harmony Smart Control!
I think it would simply be the prop power!
He’d like the Orange Whip Trainer
Logitech Harmony Smart Control – $129.99 @ Best Buy
The snow shoes would be the gift for my dad and the gold swing for my father in law.
lots of great gifts for dad
My dad would love Jack Daniel’s Sinatra Select – $299 (MSRP)
My Dad would love the Logitech Harmony Smart Control.
JACK DANIEL’S SINATRA SELECT
The Jack Daniel’s!
The power prop would be useful all around the house
All of them.
i want “Winter Cocktails” now!
Calvin Klein Dark Obsession – $62 – $82 @ Hudson’s Bay
oh my dad would love this: Jack Daniel’s Sinatra Select! after he’s shovelled the snow, nothing more he would enjoy than a sit down in his favorite easy chair with a delicious jack daniels in his hand! he deserves i too for being the great man in so many ways he is!
Quirky Prop power would be a hit with my husband (no father in my life 😦
following quirky :https://twitter.com/anniebalanie/status/404981831889469440
following Random House :https://twitter.com/anniebalanie/status/404982852518834176
following Calvin Klein :https://twitter.com/anniebalanie/status/404983740213895169
following Cufflinks :https://www.facebook.com/cufflinksdotcom/posts/10151837661707987
liked Raincoast Books :https://www.facebook.com/raincoastbooks/posts/10151808857162963
The Calvin Klein Dark Obsession is the one i would like for my dad.
The Logitech Harmony Smart Control would definitely be the perfect gift for dad come this time next month. Thanks.
my fiancee would love the Frank Sinatra Jack Daniel’s he’s an actutal fan of his even though the man has passed on
the Dark Obssesion By Klein i love the smell for my fiancee
No more dad’s for either of us anymore but my husband would love the Jack Daniel’s Sinatra Select, to warm his spirits of the winter days!
My Dad would love the prop power….my husband would love the Jack Daniels….and my father in law would love the golf swing tool.
This dad would like the Logitech Smart Control. Rob
I think the Snowshoes would make the perfect gift. 🙂
https://twitter.com/slpemdb/status/405036584942063619 followed Quirky and tweeted.
Followed and tweeted https://twitter.com/slpemdb/status/405037339069521920
Jack Daniel’s Sinatra Select – $299 (MSRP)
BOTH myself and my husband could maybe operate tech thingies if we had Logitech Harmony Smart Control
The Prop Power by Quirky would make an awesome gift for hubby..
Dad would LOVE the smart control! And everything else, for that matter. Thanks!
Prop Power – $19.99 @ Quirky
The Harmony Smart Control would be the perfect gift for the man in my house.
I love the Jack Daniels, would come to good use when company comes during the holidays..
It would have to be the snowshoes for my guy
I think my Dad would most enjoy the custom cuff links, his are a million years old
power prop
Pick me, pick me! Your next winner!!! Show me the money!!!
The Winter Cocktails book because we all need a few drinks to get through Christmas Day…
sure would love the Calvin Klein fragrance! it would rock my boat just fine indeed…
My dad would love the book Still Foolin’ Them by Billy Crystal
SNOWSHOES
My dad is the greatest handyman EVER! He would simply love the Quirky PowerProp and he’ll brag about it to all of his friends!
I don’t have a dad- he passed away when I was young,but my favorite would be the prop power or the snowshoes.I’d like to think he would feel the same.
I like to win prop power
my dad would love the Logitech Harmony Smart Control
My dad is no longer living, however, he would have liked the Prop Power by Quirky. He was a great handyman.
My dad passed away, but he would have liked the JD, I think. My hubby and eventual father himself would probably get a kick out of the cufflinks but not have opportunity to wear them, so he may prefer the winter cocktails book. We love to entertain, and we’d like to know more than a G&T or a rum and coke!
Oh my, gotta be the snowshoes as my son lives in the Shuswap. That is who they would be for as his Dad is no longer with us.
my dad would like Prop Power
The Jack Daniel’s would be great for my husband, instead.
My dad would like the orange whip trainer for sure.
he would like the prop power.
I liked and commented the cufflink facebook page.
He would love the Prop Power
I liked and commented on the Rainbow Books.Facebook page.
the Prop Power
That remote is amazing!
My father would like the Logitech Harmony Smart Control the most.
Those Darth Vader cuff links would be a hit around here.
can i say all of them? no? ok the darth vader cuff links is my vote
Definitely the Jack Daniel’s Sinatra Select – that would rock his world!!
rebthecatsitter at gmail dot com
I follow Quirky on twitter and tweeted
@rebthecatsitter
I follow random house on twitter and tweeted
@rebthecatsitter
I follow Calvin Klein on Twitter and tweeted
@rebthecatsitter
The prop power would be something my dad could really use.
The Logitech Harmony Smart Control!!
The Prop power would definitely be on my Dad’s wish list.
My Dad would totally love the Jack Daniel’s Sinatra Select.
The harmony smart control looks cool!
I think my dad would enjoy the sinatra jack daniels!
Jack Daniel’s Sinatra Select
I’d love to gift Billy Crystal’s book Still Foolin’ ‘Em. I’ve heard great reviews!
My dad (or husband) would really enjoy the Red Green Book. Funny (at least for them).
Lovely group of gifts, would love any one of them for gift giving to my better half.
The Jack Daniels but they are all awesome!
The Calvin Klein Dark Obsession!!,,They are all great gift ideas,thanks!
My dad would like Red Green’s Beginner’s Guide to Women: (For Men Who Don’t Read Instructions) – $29.95 (List)
jack daniels senatra select ..wowzer
My Dad would love the Winter cocktail book.
My dad would love Calvin Klein Dark Obsession
My dad’s a tech nut so the Logitech Harmony Smart Control would be best for him!
The Canadian Trail snowshoes, we love going up to the local mountains
My Father passed when I was 21 but my hubby is a huge fan of Jack Daniels. Jack Daniel’s Sinatra Select
the snowshoes definitely!!
The Jack Daniel’s Sinatra Select would rock my dad’s boat! He’d be in heaven!
Jack Daniel’s Sinatra Select!!!
The snow shoes are pretty awesome!
Definitely the Prop Power
Please, my dad needs Still Foolin’ ‘Em: Where I’ve Been, Where I’m Going, and Where the Hell Are My Keys? by Billy Crystal
I think my father would most like the Prop Power. That is right up his alley!
I think he would like the Billy Crystal book but I think he needs the CK cologne! haha 😉
the Logitech remote is perfect for hubby
I’d say that the cufflinks would most rock my Dad’s boat…he’d get a kick out of them.
Dark Obsession by Calvin Klein
Definitely the smart control
My father is deceased but I always used to buy him a new fragrance for Christmas.
So, for my husband, out of these ideas, he would be sure to like the CK Dark Obsession scent.
Thanks.
I follow Calvin Klein on Twitter as @Alexandrina_M and tweeted:
Oooops….that is the wrong tweet.
Here is the Calvin Klein one:
Jack Daniels Sinatra Select for sure!!
My dad would love that power cord!
I think the power cord would be a big hit.
snowshoes so i don’t sink into snow
I think my Dad would like Prop Power the best.
He’d love the Quirky Prop Power extension cord.
Following Quirky on Twitter
Calvin Klein on Twitter
The Canadian Trail Snowshoes are pretty cool. I really like the colour.
Ah, the Quirky Prop Power – finally a gift my dad would use that I could afford!
My husband would love the Prop Power since it would be great when he is using his power tools.
My Dad would love the Jack Daniels!!!
Jack Danel’s for my son-on-law
Jack Daniel’s Sinatra Select
My dad would love the Quirky Prop Power, it’s just what he needs!
The Billy Crystal book or the booze. I cannot decide!
for MY dad? the power prop probably lol, for my husband, the Jack Daniels (which he would give to me muahahaha)
My dad would love Billy Crystal’s memoir
jack daniels
My dad would love prop power.
Jack Daniels Sinatra Select would definitely make my Dad’s Christmas.
he would love Canadian Trail Snowshoes – $159.99 @ Canadian Tire
My hubs would love the snowshoes they look awesome!