From frugal to fabulous - great Father's day gift ideas

Need more great gift ideas for Dad? Happy to oblige. 

Is Dad an aging hippie, or just an aficionado of amazing harmonies? He might like The Beach Boys new album, That’s Why God Made the Radio.  Available at HMV for $17. If his taste runs to something with a slightly harder edge, Rush's Clockwork Angels, also at HMV for $15.

You love Dad, but not his habit of wearing his old running shoes with short socks — even in public. We feel your pain. Kick up Daddy-O’s cool quotient with Sebago’s Triton Three-Eye (about $140) at The Dock Shoppe; Town Shoes; Little Burgundy; Locale; Browns or online at Sebago.

Also worth a look are Wolverine’s Fulcrum GTX ($300) line. These boots have more than rugged  good looks going for them. Waterproof leather uppers with a mesh lining, and a GoreTex membrane make them comfy and breathable.
But here’s the kicker — there’s a removable insole that sits atop a special disc that allows the wearer to customize support. Clever, no?

Does Dad love his coffee? Go all out with De’Longhi’s Gran Dama Avant Espresso Make, which makes perfect latte, cappuccino, Italian macchiato, espresso or plain ole coffee. It’s got touch-screen operation, an on-board grinder, and a plastic jug that stores netaly away in the fridge delivers milk directly into the cup (no fussing with steamer wands).
If the SRP of $3500 is a little too steep, remember that De Longhi has great lower price-point models the one I have does coffee and espresso (space saving) and comes in closer to $250.

Is Father Dear always running late? And do you have a healthy wad of cash burning a hole in your pocket? Tissot’s gorgeous T-Touch II ($950.00) is a stylish solution.
Other models from the same line start at $695.Just the watch to get if Dad’s taste runs to a touch-screen, Swiss-made watch that gives 13 functions, including an altimeter, compass, thermometer and alarm and is water resistant up to 100 metres.Plus, you can get it a funky orange silicone strap, if Dad happens to be a style-meister.  Available at Birks across Canada.

Gold medal design

Okay – it has nothing to do with home decor, but I’m looking for a new watch. While I was ignoring a deadline scouring press releases marked "miscellaneous" to make sure I didn't miss anything important, I found this  new limited edition Omega (above) that I think is too pretty not to post. The Seamaster Diver 300m “Vancouver 2010” has a sexy red-anodised aluminum bezel ring and a background of dazzling white (like snow, and ice – get it?) The back has an embossed Ilanaak, the symbol of the Games that represents the piled stone monuments made by Canadian First Nations people to greet visitors. I suppose I should be impressed that it’s equipped with professional diving features — it’s water resistant to a depth of 300 metres, and has a unidirectional rotating bezel and a helium-escape valve (don't ask me what that means -  I think it's diver-talk).Even though I don’t have any deep sea diving plans, I want one. Oh dear, I just noticed it sells for $4,500. Maybe I’ll have to go with something from the Swatch Olympic line — perhaps the To the Top model shown below, which goes for $135. No, dang it, it’s the Seamaster I want. Speaking of the Oylmpics, what would your dream TV be for watching the events? Just curious....

 

Gold medal reporting

Samsung is holding a contest that will send 10 Canadians to the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games. The electronics giant is searching for social media-savvy types who can attend, and report on,  the Games. The winners get round-trip, economy-class airfare to and from Vancouver, accommodation for 20 nights, meals and a Samsung Omnia II mobile phone. But hurry, you have to enter by December 6^th. Hey, wait a minute, now that I think of it, why can't I go? I’m social media savvy, aren’t I? Sort of, in a way. And I want to go to the Games. And I need a new phone....