5 Gift Ideas for Father's Day

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Show the father figure in your life just how much you appreciate him on Father's Day, which falls on June 19 this year. These five products from local companies and stores are a great way to start.

Coffee Subscription from Calgary Heritage Roasting Co.

For those who need a morning java fix, a coffee subscription from the latest addition to Calgary's roasting scene will be just the thing. Calgary Heritage Roasting Co. offers two-, four- and six-month coffee subscriptions in either a medium or espresso roast (from $77). Your dad can expect to get two bags of roasted coffee beans at the beginning of each month.

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Gourmet Popcorn from Sugar Creek Gourmet Popcorn

Consider some popcorn from Sugar Creek Gourmet Popcorn is a great gift for those who loves to snack. Popular flavours include sea salt caramel, brown sugar caramel and cashew caramel, and bags are available for $4 to $8 depending on the kind. Pick some up at the Calgary Farmers' Market or Crossroads Market on the weekend.

Triumph & Disaster On the Road Travel Kit

Forge Weekender Bag 

Calgary company Mother Co. makes beautiful bags out of waxed canvas and leather, and the Forge Weekender Bag ($129) is no exception. The water resistant bag comes in navy, chocolate and dark tan, and is a stylish travel bag for a quick trip. Pick one up at Meraki Supply Co. in Kensington or on Mother Co.'s website.

YYC Snapback

Show some Calgary pride with a YYC Snapback ($30) from Local Laundry Apparel. The Calgary company offers apparel inspired by the city and the communities within it. This hat, which is part of the YYC collection, comes in charcoal, navy and black and has an adjustable snap closure. Order one online or pick one up at Lukes Drug Mart, Meraki Supply Co. or Stuff.

5 gift ideas for your aging father

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Chances are, your dad is a baby boomer or even older. With people living longer these days and more and more boomers hitting retirement age, the infamous Father's Day blue striped tie probably isn't the right gift for your still quite active father.

Sixty is the new 40, and 80 might as well be the new 60. What better symbol of the active, aging father than President George H.W. Bush, who jumps out of airplanes in his mid-80s? Our aging fathers do not need more things.

Intangibles. That's the ticket. Father's Day gifts should be consumables, which can be eaten, used, spent, sipped or enjoyed. No dust catchers for later generations to sort, no hideous Necktie of the Month Club ties.

If Wally and the Beav had given traditional father Ward Clever gifts from the five categories we'll look at, he might have been disappointed. But your modern dad would love getting such gifts.

The Sportsman

Fathers with established hobbies are usually inundated with hobby-related gifts. How many baseball hats or golf balls can one man have?

If your dad plays golf, what better gift than tee-times? Many public clubs offer gift certificates. Even if you are a duffer, why not line up a tee-time or two with dear old dad? If he belongs to a private club, consider purchasing cart rentals or other extras that don't come with membership.

For the avid spectator sportsman, check out special sports packages. Most cable companies offer individual games or game packages. If your dad can't afford such premium sports channels, wouldn't that be a great gift?

Attending a baseball game is a summer American tradition, and the new MLB ballparks all across the country offer up an afternoon of total fun. Buy Dad tickets and pick up the food tab. After all, nothing tastes more like summer than a ballpark hot dog covered with onions and relish.

But, what if your dad doesn't like sports?

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Planes, trains and automobiles

Older adults have time to travel. Send your Dad on a trip to his hometown. Better yet, go with him, or send the grandchildren. You might be able to use your own hotel points for lodging and airline points for travel.

If your parent lives in a major city, a subway or bus card is a great gift.

With gas prices soaring this summer, a gift certificate for gasoline or an oil change tucked in a Father's Day card is a thoughtful, useful gift for the father who still takes a Sunday drive.

If life has been very good to you, why not send your dad on an extended tour to someplace he's always dreamed of seeing? Didn't he pack you and your siblings up in the Chevy and drive to the Grand Canyon? Smithsonian Journeys offers upscale tours all over the world.

Tours are rated by intensity and activity level, so be sure to choose one appropriate to his age and fitness.Revenge of the nerds

For the Dad who's been on a computer run since Univac, there are many intangible gift items. BlackBerry, iPhone and Android all offer gift certificates for apps.

Maybe Dad is dying to play retro "Frogger" or the hot new "Angry Birds," both available as apps. Of course, that's when he's not playing chess at the dining room table with his pal, that Walter Matthau-lookalike.

Make sure Dad has good anti-virus and security software. Check with your own computer experts for the right system. Enhance the gift by overseeing the installation and cleaning up Dad's system. Make it a malware free Father's Day!

Buy Dad an external hard drive and if he doesn't know how, back up his system for him and set up the software to do regular back-ups.

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Family guy

Digitize family pictures and put them on Dad's computer. Help him set up email and social networking with family members. If Dad is a collector of family treasures, sort through and label items with an archival-quality pen.

Give him a subscription to Ancestry.com, so he can research his predecessors and determine if Uncle Fred was indeed a fife player for the Yanks.

How about GO phone or Jitterbug phone minutes, so Dad can call those long-distance family members? And have your son, the engineering major, program the phone for Grandpa to make it super easy.

Time with Dad is precious, and someday you'll be very glad you did these things, and so will your children.

5 Father’s Day Gift Ideas For Every Kind Of Older Dad

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Dads come in many shapes and sizes. And older dads may be among the hardest ones to shop for. They tend to be “I have everything, I want nothing” fellas. OK, so you know better than to get them a tie. Here are some ideas for the many types of dads in your life:

1. Gadget Dad

What is the one continually annoying tech-related product that Dad seriously has been at war with? The printer, are we right??? Between the “it’s ugly, keep it out of sight” and “Dad, can you change the ink cartridge (again)?” the printer is Enemy No. 1 of Gadget Dads.

Well just for GD, along comes the brand new Primera Trio: the smallest, lightest, all-in-one printer, copier and scanner. It weighs a mere 2.6 lbs and can even be used in the car. And why yes, it would fit great in your small dorm room — but maybe don’t mention that until after Father’s Day? Price: $289.

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 2. Healthy Dad

While we’re talking small, how can the poor guy stay healthy when Mom insists that the kitchen counters be kept free of small appliances? And while we love our Vitamix, let’s face it: It’s the Godzilla of the kitchen.

The new Juicepresso cold-press juicer has the smallest footprint of any juicer on the market today. It’s also quieter and produces 40 percent more juice with a 72-hour juice life. The pulp and juice can be used for soups, baby food, almond milk, pancakes, etc. Go fresh, Dad, go fresh! Price: about $500.

COURTESY OF JUICEPRESSO

3. History-Buff Dad

What better history to explore than his own? Give him a membership inAncestry.com and let him ferret out some family secrets. It’s great fun and easy to use. There’s a free two-week trial and membership begins at about $100. You can also get him a DNA kit for $100 — less a 10 percent discount for Father’s Day.

4. Security-Minded Dad

The Brinno PHV 1330 is a home peephole viewer that takes photos of anyone or anything that is outside your front door. This battery-powered device features an LCD screen on the inside of the door to display the photos, which stores still shots as well as video on a Micro SD card and includes a time stamp for when the sensor is activated. Take that, bad guys! The batteries last for 9,000 triggers or about six months and the playback feature allows you to view a time-lapsed video of all the images with one press of a button. The peephole looks identical to a normal peephole, so intruders don’t realize that they’re being recording. About $160.

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5. For Dads With Owies

With middle age comes some inevitable aches and pains. The MELT Methodis a self-treatment package that simulates the hands-on techniques that manual therapists use to eliminate accumulated stress, pain, and dysfunction. Think of it as a massage or foot rub when nobody wants to give one to Dad. The program claims to improve ailments such as chronic pain, joint compression, posture, digestion, sleep problems, stress, and anxiety in 10 minutes a day. Since that seems to cover most everything, why not give it a go? The DVD package for $30 will get him started and you can add a performance roller for $40 and hand/foot balls for $30.

5 Ways to Save on Outdoor Toys This Summer

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Now that it’s late June and finally summer, the season of outside play is officially here. In fact, the outdoor toy industry is big business – sales of outdoor and sports toys hit nearly $4.4 billion in the United States last year, according to the Toy Industry Association. So, there’s a good chance you may in the market for “outdoor toys” – from slides, sandboxes and swings to water tables, ride-on cars and backyard pools.

If such toys are on your summer to-get list and you’re wondering how to score the best deal on them, these five money-saving strategies may help.

Know when to buy the fair weather toys. If you and your kids can wait, it turns out that August may actually be the best time to buy new outdoor toys. August is when “retailers look to clear the racks for fall inventory,” meaning you may be able to find deals on summer toys like kiddie pools then, according to Cheapism.com.

However, if you can’t wait that long, it’s worthwhile to at least know what you should pay for the new outdoor toys you want. In other words, you’ll want to know when a price is a good deal so you can jump at it. A good resource for such information is BabyCheapskate.com, which offers a nice overview of 22 top outdoor toys, including sandboxes, water tables, playhouses and slides.

Know which outdoor toys are worth the money. It’s always a good idea to take some time to research which outdoor toys are the highest rated. BabyCheapskate.com’s Buy-It-Now list is one resource for such information, and you can also filter Amazon.com’s outdoor-toy listings by average customer review rating.

In addition, reading consumer reviews on sites like Amazon.com can be helpful for learning about little toys’ tidbits and features that might make or break your buying decision – for instance, you may not have known that some push ride-on toys are easier on parents’ backs than others. Finally, consider going for a toy that can be used outside and inside your home, so you can use it during colder months too, a great method for making outdoor toys worth the money.

Know where to find the outdoor toy deals. While my recommendations are by no means the only resources for discounted outdoor toys, I’ve found that Walmart.com offers great deals on toys, and Amazon.com’s outdoor toy deals are also worth checking out. Elsewhere, it turns out that Zulily.com isn’t just for clothes and shoes – the flash sale site also offers deals on outdoor toys from brands like Little Tikes and Wonder Wheels. Finally, always make sure to search for additional coupon codes and deals before you buy a specific new toy. So, once you’ve identified the outdoor toy you want, merely enter its name into Google along with terms like “deals” and “coupon codes,” and see what kind of savings the searches bring up.

Consider going for a second-hand summertime toy. Of course, you’ll likely find that the best deals out there are for used outdoor toys. So, if you don’t mind going for a gently used toy (just make sure to clean it well before use), you’ll want to check out the for-sale toy listings on craigslist, your local parents’ listservs and Facebook swap groups for your area. Local yard and garage sales can be good resources too for summertime hand-me-downs. And finally, you’ll want to check out the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s Web site (cpsc.gov) to make sure the product you’re consider buying hasn’t been recalled.

Make your own outdoor fun. Rather than spending money on pre-made outdoor toys, many inexpensive items you may already have around the house can easily become summertime toys. For instance, plastic bins and baby bathtubs can double as small outdoor pools, sand boxes and water tables. Here are some more ideas for DIY water tables  and search “DIY outdoor toys” and “DIY water toys” on Pinterest.com for more do-it-yourself outdoor toy inspiration. Meanwhile, sprinklers and sponges can quickly become outdoor water toys when you’re in a pinch or on a tight budget.

What tips for saving on outdoor tips did I miss? Share your thoughts below.

6 Best Places to Find Vintage Clothes Online

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For men who love fashion, vintage shopping can be like being out on the hunt — it’s thrilling, and you never know what great things you’ll be able to find. However, finding the right piece can be a little tricky, time consuming, and a bit overwhelming because what you’re buying is from another era and might not be in perfect condition.

There’s a big difference between the real-deal vintage garments like ’70s, Steve McQueen-inspired shearling jackets and thrift store/second-hand finds. “You can find great vintage items in thrift stores, but you shouldn’t find obvious thrift items in a vintage store. Vintage denotes something special — that an item has stood the test of time and has proven to remain relevant for any number of reasons — timelessness of style, [quality], historical or cultural significance or interesting provenance,” says Doris Raymond, who has been buying and selling vintage clothing for over 30 years at the Los Angeles-based store The Way We Wore, to StyleCaster.

Additionally, part of having great style is finding beautifully worn-in, unique, or at the very least rare items and mixing them with style basics from Club Monaco or Nordstrom. Shopping for vintage online can be less overwhelming, which is why we’ve compiled six places for you to check out.

Keep this one thing in mind as you shop: If you fall in love with something that doesn’t quite fit, remember that vintage items can always be nipped and tucked and tailored.

1. Monster Vintage 

This site has a large selection and is painstakingly organized vintage. You’ll find everything from vintage Pendleton knits to ’80s leather jackets and old Levi’s. This store has you covered with a wide variety of choices for every man.

2. Beyond Retro

If you’ve ever been to London, then you’ve probably heard of this vintage shop — it’s an absolute must-see if you plan to be in the U.K. Beyond Retro boasts the biggest range of men’s vintage fashion in the U.K., including some serious retro pieces including jackets, shirts, and jeans from brands like Dior, Ralph Lauren, and Wrangler. Vintage options span across eras, from the ’50s to the ’90s, but they’re not just a platter of different pieces. The store is all up to date with the latest trends and streetwear, so you know whatever it is you’re purchasing, and you’re on point.

3. 619 Vintage

Sold through ASOS’s marketplace, 619 Vintage brings together unique, simplistic one-of-a-kind vintage pieces from around the world. Specializing in clothing inspired by the ’70s, ’80s, and early ’90s, each item is hand picked to ensure quality and authenticity. You’ll find trendy (but vintage) suede bombers, oversize button downs, and tribal print-inspired overcoats.

4. Vaunte

Source: iStock

If you’re looking for designer vintage, then Vaunte is the online store you’ve been searching for. Tastemaker types go here to consign their right-off-the-runway clothes. You’ll find all kinds of daring designer merchandise from Cartier to Louis Vuitton, Givenchy, and the list goes on.

5. 86Vintage86

For the rugged hipster-type at heart, this store is on multi-retailer marketplace Etsy, showcasing great military-inspired field jackets and flannels.

6. Farfetch

Farfetch is well known for selling what’s new in contemporary fashion, and is another marketplace for smaller retailers. It specializes in out-there designer vintage from the likes of Jean Paul Gaultier, Dolce & Gabbana, and Versace. This store stocks some serious collectors items

7 Best Pairs of Sandals to Wear This Summer

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Gentlemen, it’s time for the big reveal of the season … your feet. They’ve been cooped up all winter (and spring), and it’s just about time for them to make their yearly appearance in a pair of fashionable sandals. We can all agree at this point that sandals, well, the right ones, are a great option. However, the catch in making sandals work is to put the effort into making them fit into your late spring/summer attire. Just because the mercury rises doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t care about how and what you wear your sandals with. After all, you’re a sartorially savvy gent who doesn’t just throw on any old pair of sandals all willy nilly — you do so with purpose and flare.

So, scrub those feet and spring for that pedicure because everyone appreciates a man with nice feet, and get ready to try one or all of these great sandal options for the season, which are sure to go with almost any off-duty outfit or any beach adventure. Here are 7 of the best sandals to try for summer (and whatever you do, steer clear of rubber flip flops unless you are sitting by a pool or walking through the sand.)

1. Montcler Basile Striped Leather and Rubber Slides

Moncleer striped leather slipper | Source: Mr.Porter

With the sportswear trend not going anywhere anytime soon, these sleek Basile slides by Moncler exude that perfect sophisticated spin on the typical after-the-game sporty design. They’re for the athletic man who is willing to give up his sneakers for just a bit, and only because it’s so hot outside. These athletic slides are made in Italty and have clean lines and black, red, and white leather stripes set on a molded rubber footbed, marrying both luxury and sport in one sandal. They are comfortable enough to wear in the city on your days off during the summer or by the pool. Wear these comfy slides with a plain white tee and a pair of rolled chinos or tapered sweats to maintain the sporty feel to them.

2. Base London Commodus Leather Sandal

Leather sandals | Source: Asos

The Commodus Leather Sandal by Base London is what could best be described as a budget friendly sleek sandal that is for the man who is still on the fence about how he feels about wearing sandals. Made of a textured leather upper and a suede footbed designed with cross-over straps, these slip-ons work well with everything from slim-fitting jeans to shorts, chinos, and linen trousers.

3. H&M Leather Sandals

Sandals | Source: H&M

Part of H&M’s Premium Quality collection, these black leather sandals are a steal in price for the quality offered. These sandals are made with an adjustable ankle strap with a painted metal buckle. These sandals are as versatile as they are sophisticated and comfortable, made with molded nappa insoles. Feel free to experiment with this pair, but just be sure that whichever pants you choose to pair them with are slim fitted, rollable or fall above the ankle.

4. To Boot New York Bedford Double Strap Sandals

Double strap sandals | Source: Bloomingdales

A different take on the Birkenstock, they’re less bulky and slightly more sophisticated in style. The best part about these double strap sandals by To Boot New York are the care and ease of wearing them. Made of Italian leather and with the lived-in comfort of a nicely cushioned sole, they fit true to size. These are yet another great pair you can wear with practically any smart off-duty attire, matching nicely with a pair of olive fitted cargo pants, a plain white tee and white sports jacket.

5. Hender Scheme Atelier Slipper

Sandals | Source: End Clothing

If you’re a man of simple tastes and a true minimalist at heart, then you’re going to love the Hender Scheme Atelier slipper in nude. Simplicity in craftsmanship, the company hails from Japan, a country so well known for precision, expertise, and quality, these slippers are made from a raw leather that promises to age well. Crafted with one single strap, and make of the same signature sole of one of the world’s most comfortably crafted sandal manufactures, Birkenstock, let’s just say that these slippers are perfection.

6. Nike Benassi ‘Just Do It’ Mismatch

Mismatch sandals | Source: Amazon

Touted by Nike themselves as  “pure comfort” we don’t doubt this fact upon looking at these utterly cool and chic sandals. The Nike Benassi ‘Just Do It’ Mismatch Men’s Slide (we’re not kidding about the being mismatched — you may come across as wearing two different sandals) is for the very fashion-forward man who can’t get enough of the athleisure trend. While these are not so much a wear-anywhere slide with a textured footbed and ulta-soft cushioning, they’re great for the beach, but also on a Sunday when you’re grabbing a boozy brunch with your buddies. Totally lightweight and should be worn with the most casual of attire.

7. Valentino Camo Sandal

Camo sandals | Source: End Clothing

Iconic Italian brand Valentino can do no wrong, and while renowned more so for it’s elegant collections, this casual camo sandal deviates from the fashion house’s style. Though the sandals are incredibly casual, they’re made of fine Italian Calfskin leather and styled with woven camouflage straps, with the footbed intricately stitched onto a rugged rubber sole. They’re truly a piece of art that should be worn w

5 Tips for Buying the Best Summer Sandals

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It's time to buy new summer sandals!

With summer quickly approaching, it's time to head to salon for a pedicure and strap on a pretty new pair of summer sandals! Nothing says SUMMER like brightly painted toes and cute new shoes, right? Of course you don't want to cover that pretty toenail polish up with boring old shoes, so a new pair of sandals are in order! 

The only problem is that there are so many new styles coming out each year, it can be a chore to figure out which style is right for you. I would love to just spend every day on the beach from June until school begins in August, throwing a pair of simple flip flops into my tote bag. But that just doesn't cut it! More often than not, we find ourselves having to buy a few different pairs of sandals at the beginning of each summer for the different activities we will be doing. Shoe shopping can seem a daunting task, but with the enormous selection of sandals available on eBay.com, you can sit down and browse through flip flops, gladiator sandals and wedges in the latest fashions for less! It's much more fun to go shoe shopping when the prices are low and the selection is wide! 

How much height do you want?

We all see those pretty three inch wedges and think that we will wear them every day, all summer long. Those three inches look great when we put them on, but by the end of the second day you will realize...walking in heels is no fun!  

Be realistic when you go shopping for sandals! No one wants to have tired, achy feet by the end of the day...no matter how great they look! If you aren't used to walking in heels, stick to flats for your vacation and have nice, comfortable feet at the end of your day. 

Where are you going this summer?

We all pack our clothes based on our destination. If you are vacationing on a sandy beach somewhere, you will likely pack bathing suits, sundresses and cover ups. The shoes in your suitcase should be no different - they should be appropriate for what you're doing. If you plan on hitting the theme parks this summer, skip the flimsy flip flops and invest in a great pair of comfort sandals with cushioning and arch support. 

If you plan on seeing the sites in a big city, pack those strappy sandals for day and cute wedges for your big nights out on the town. Likewise, if you are spending your days poolside, go ahead and get those new sparkly flip flops!  

What is your sandal style?

Aside from choosing the right height for your sandals and making sure that they're going to be comfortable for what you're doing, keep your basic sense of style in mind when buying new sandals this summer. If you don't normally wear gladiator sandals, as nice as they might look, you probably won't be putting them on every day. If you aren't a fan of rhinestones, stay away from sandals with too much bling. However, make sure that you are having fun with your sandal selection - it never hurts to try new things, and with the low prices available on eBay.com, you can afford to try a new style without having serious buyer's remorse!  

Wear your sandals in properly!

I know that I said to stick to your usual style...but that doesn't mean that you can't also buy a pair of fun new shoes that you've never tried before! Just make sure that you buy them in advance of any trips you are taking and that you wear them in before traveling with them.  

I love wedges for summer because they're sandals but you can easily dress up an otherwise casual outfit with them! Wedges are a great alternative to flat sandals because they are usually made in a platform style so that the real heel height isn't quite so high. I have a hard time walking in heels but I always manage just fine in wedges.  

The key to trying new styles of shoes and sandals is that you give yourself a chance to wear them in. If you do buy a new pair of sandals and find that they don't fit right or are hard to walk in, chances are that walking around in them for a day or two around the house will make them much more comfortable. If they feel like they're too tight, try wearing a thin pair of socks with them to help stretch them out.