Last Minute Father's Day Gifts

So it's the Thursday before Father's Day and I can honestly say I've struggled with my For Father's Gift/Wish List. When I first began blogging it was easy. Now 3 years in with a couple thousand active readers, having recently been named a Top 50 Dad Blogger and with a Klout Score that is growing by the day I should be overjoyed to use my influence to rep DAD to the fullest and get us some gifts we deserve.

To be honest, I'm barely interested.

I've had everything from chainsaws to iPhone apps thrown at me to review and post. All for free of course. And though my attitude on the word "free" is changing thanks to Seth Godin (this blog is free, the Internet is "free"), I still have cause for pause:

Why am I telling people what to buy me or any other Dad? Shouldn't someone else other than Dad be providing the advice. No different than the men who write about what NOT to do if you don't want to get put out of the house/sleep on the couch/not get any on Mother's Day. Unfortunately we can't put anyone out of the house, the wife will only sleep on the couch because she wants to and well getting some...that's a whole 'nother conversation.

Despite this I have spied a couple of Father's Day items priced at both ends of the cost spectrum that sparked my interest. Both are likely to bring joy to the whole family should these be given as gifts.

#1 - The Perfect Stubble
A couple months back I received Conair's i-Stubble, "The Ultimate in Stubble Control". It is a very basic facial hair groomer with a very modern twist --- a guard that can be electronically raised and lowered between .4 and 2 millimeters. As a former unpaid barber to the masses and loyal Oster and Andis user, I was highly skeptical of this Conair device. I began using it day in and day out and I must confess I have had the same goatee and mustache that I did the day after I broke this cordless, rechargeable device out of its package. The first day I accidentally sheared half my mustache off, but that's what I get for not reading the directions and cutting in the direction that my facial hair grows versus against it. Anyone who doesn't know any better would swear I was at an old school barber everyday getting a straight-edge shave and trim. But in truth it's just the Conair I-stubble Facial Trimmer. You can look as trim as you want or achieve that "perfect scruff" that movie stars have and women (often your own) drool over.

#2 - Leave That Webcam Alone
Now this is what I like to refer to as a big boy toy. Something that typically only Dad will know how to operate. Equally, he's usually the only one who wants to (For example all electronics issues in my home are deferred to me, if not me then my son is 2nd in line, if not him, then my 5 y.o. daughter is more than eager to turn on the television for my wife).

Why not get DAD a gift that brings him closer to those he loves this Father’s Day: Cisco ûmi connects family and friends, even during the busiest times. It’s a new way for the whole family to get together and chat – whether they’re around the corner or across the country. Cisco ûmi connects to any HD television and broadband internet connection to deliver a video communications experience through your TV and from the comfort of your living room with such amazing clarity it feels as if everyone is in the same room. I've been drooling over this for the past 12 months and anticipate going into the next 12 months continuing to drool.

With Cisco ûmi’s interoperability with Google Video, traveling dads who are often on the road can use their PC or MAC to share all the moments at home from bedtime stories to blowing a good night kiss.


You might be wondering, well how does this work if I'm the only one who has one? Now through June 19th you can take advantage of the Cisco umi with 720p HD resolution Buy One Get One Free Offer thanks to the good folks at Cisco and Amazon.com. This way you'll have a gift for Dad and a way to stay in touch with the family down South, in the Midwest, out West or East or across the pond.


E.Payne is the author of the soon to be released DAD: As Easy As A, B, C! and I Didn't Invented Sex. For the past 3 years he has posted 600+ articles about fatherhood, marriage and everything in between here at Makes Me Wanna Holler.com. To learn more, click here.