Father's Day 2016 Gift Guide

Sunday 19th June is the day where we let the Dad's of the world know how much we care. I know that we shouldn't wait for that one day a year to let them know how thankful we are for all that they do, but really it's not about that. We don't wait for that one day a year, we let them know in our own way, everyday. But why shouldn't we make an extra special effort one Sunday each year? Why shouldn't we have an excuse to pull up a chair, sit down and enjoy lunch as a family? 

For me it's just another excuse to get the family together and let those men in our lives know that what they do does not go un-noticed. It's just a day to give them that extra bit of pampering and just generally spoil them. 

Stuck for gift ideas? Have a look at the Life Unexpected gift round up to see if there's anything that might tick the boxes of gift requirements. I for one think that buying for the Dad's of the world can be tricky, let's face it they are so much harder to buy for than us ladies. They seem to have absolutely everything that they could possibly ever want or need, they go out and they buy their own things, and steal it back off to their man cave, so sometimes it's a worry that you could duplicate gifts...

Let's surprise them for 2016!

Something for the office?

You can't go wrong picking out a practical gift for the working man, they will love you for it even. Especially if that practical gift comes in the shape of a Parker Pen, because gifting a Parker is so much more than just picking out a pen, it's a luxurious treat. There is such a wide selection available to suit every budget, so if you have a particular budget in mind you will be able to pick out a pen or set that suits that perfectly. 

If you are thinking about a practical gift then how about the WD My Passport Ultra? In a day and age where everything is digital, we are all in the same boat when it comes to backing our digital lives up. We want everything to be in one place and readily available right? 

My Passport Ultra portable  comes in 3 different sizes: 500GB, 1TB and 2TB. The hard drives feature WD SmartWare Pro back-up software that lets you save data to the drive itself or use Dropbox to back-up to the cloud. You can move files quickly with the blazing speed of USB 3.0 connectivity whilst keeping your data private with password protection and hardware encryption.

At a Glance

- Ultra-compact design with plenty of storage

- Fast data transfers with USB 3.0 interface

- USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 compatibility

- Automatic back-up software for local back-ups

- Cloud back-up through Dropbox

- Password protection and hardware encryption

Or how about going down a practical but personal route? Everyone in 2016 has access to a smart phone, which means that they have access to a camera. Everyone is taking and sharing photos in some way, shape or form. That is what makes the Nixplay Seed WiFi Cloud Frame so special. 

The Nixplay Seed Frame makes it easy to get in touch with your photos. You yourself can send photos directly from your phone to the frame, and you can even allow friends and family to share their own photos to the Nixplay WiFi Frame from anywhere in the world! 

The frame is available in four different colours and each are finished with a beautiful design to fit stylishly anywhere within the home or office space. The power cord is flexible and acts as a frame stand which allows for adjustable viewing angle.

How about facial hair maintenance? 

Ever noticed that when a man tells you to be ready for a certain time, you are usually the one sitting around and waiting for them to be ready? There have been times where I have had to tell my other half a earlier time so that we have a chance of actually makig the real (slightly later) time! The reason behind the lateness usually falls in the realms of the getting ready. Yup those men of ours (if we are honest) usually take longer to get ready than the ladies in their lives.

I know we probably shouldn't encourage them to spend any longer getting ready than they already do, but why not provide them with a few of the necessities that they covet this Fathers Day? For the bearded man in your lives look no further than the Power Health Beard Oil that comes in two blends, Citrus and Warming. Priced at £8.99 they make a lovely addition whether you choose to buy just the one, or present both this Father's Day.

While we are thinking about taming the otherwise wild manes of the men in our lives, how about treating them to a some new maintenance tools to keep it trim? The new Gilette Fusion ProShield has lubrication before and after the blade so that it helps shield from any irritation. The blade is Gilette's thinnest to date, boasting the finest blade edges for less tug and pull during use. It boasts FlexBall technology which allows the razor to pivot and respond to the unique shape of the users face, and contours for maximum contact.

Last but most definitely not least for our grooming finale, we have the Braun Series 3 Wet and Dry Foil Shaver which has been newly designed and offers MicroComb technology. The series 3 catches and feeds more hair into the cutting parts, for a faster more efficient shave than ever before. Thanks to its triple action cutting system, sensofoil and precision mode the series 3 not only delivers having performance on three day beards, but is also incredibly smooth on skin. Plus this Wet and Dry 3080 model can even be used in the shower with foam or gel for a more comfortable shaving experience.

Or to keep them active?

What if your Dad or Grandad is more in tune with spending time at the gym or heading out on brisk walks? I know that my own Dad started a get fit regime back in January and 4 months later he has lost 2 stone and is more active than ever before. If that sounds like someone you know then you may want to consider the TomTom Spark Cardio + Music. Yep! You read that right, TomTom isn't just the helpful satellite navigation system to get you from point A to point B in 2016, it's the GPS Fitness Watch!

It's definitely a contender if you are thinking about investing in some wearable fitness technology, and even boasts a built in heart rate monitor. Here are some of the other features that just make this piece of tech even more desirable:

- 24/7 activity tracking - Capture steps, calories burnt and active minutes all day everyday!
- GPS tracking - Keep track of your timing, pace and distance.
- Multisport mode - Modes for cycling, running, swimming and treadmill. 
- Built-in heart rate monitor - Providing you with accurate heart rate information from your wrist. There is no band to strap around your chest. Just use and go!
- Over 500 songs of music storage - Enjoy your music WITHOUT having to take your phone with you. All of your music can be stored on your watch. 

Even I am excited by the TomTom Spark Cardio + Music, so keep your eyes peeled for the full review of this all singing, all dancing fitness watch over the coming weeks. 

RRP £189.00

If you are going down the fitness route then the Slendertone Abs 7 Unisex Toning Belt could be the perfect light bulb moment! The Slendertone Abs 7 uses advanced EMS technology to help tone and shape your abs from as little as 4 weeks! The idea is that you combine the abs belt whilst working out in order to double the benefits of your exercise routine.

It is advised that you use this 5 times a week over the course of a month in order to help you achieve your goal of stronger, toned abs.

Of course exercise and a well balanced diet are the ultimate key to achieving a washboard stomach, and the key to any training program is time and commitment.

Slendertone Abs7 Unisex Toning Belt features:

• - 10 programmes: 7 are passive programmes (no physical activity required) and 3 are active (with physical activity).
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• - 0-150 intensity for maximum power to suit all users.
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• - 0-30 minute treatments.
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• - Built-in warm up and cool down phases to ensure correct muscle usage.
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• - Intelligent training system to auto-progress you through the programmes.
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• - Patented 3 pads positioned around waist over the belly button and either side.
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• - Hand held rechargeable & interchangeable controller – suitable for use with Slendertone Arms Male Accessory.
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• • Certified to medical safety standards.

Clinically proven results:

All Slendertone products undergo rigorous clinical trials. Slendertone Abs7 Unisex Belt is clinically proven for a firmer and flatter stomach in just 4 weeks:

• - 100% of users reporting firmer more toned abs.
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• - 72% increase in abdominal endurance.
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• - 49% increase in abdominal strength.
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• - 20 mins = 120 abdominal crunches.
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*Clinical trial conducted by Dr. John Porcari, University of Wisconsin, La-Crosse. Flex & Walking (University of Ulster)*

Kick start their day...

Lumie Bodyclock is the original wake-up light. It simulates the sunrise and gradually wakes you up by increasing the natural daylight. As the light in the room gets brighter it signals for your body to ease production of sleep hormones (melatonin) and increases that that help you get up and go (Cortisol)!

I don't know about you, but I am awful at getting up in the morning. Some days I get up relatively easily and the next I am there snoozing my iPhone alarm to the point that I will be lucky to get out of the door in time to drop little man at school, I sometimes feel like I need a clock that will brew the coffee and press it to my lips first thing each morning. The way the Lumie Bodyclock's Wake-up lights work, they aid your sleep cycle and keep you on track, they boost your mood, energy levels and even help with your productivity levels throughout the day.

I myself like to get up and head out in the early AM for a walk. Recent weeks have seen me snoozing the alarm and missing that window of opportunity to get outside. So I look forward to seeing how the implementation of the Lumie Bodyclock Elite 300 will help me in kick starting my mornings.

Elite Features
- 15, 30, 60 or 90-minute sunrise to wake naturally
- 15, 30, 60 or 90-minute sunset to wind down for bed
- AM/FM radio to listen to your favourite station after waking
- SD slot to play MP3 tracks
- Choice of wake-up sounds to enhance your sunrise, including dawn chorus, waves and rain
- Guided meditation by Meditainment, experts in audio for sleep and well-being
- White noise setting to mask sounds that might keep you awake
- A choice of relaxing sounds to lull you to sleep
- 7 day alarm setting
- Dimmable lighting for use as a bedside light
- Nightlight feature
- Glass lamp cover
- Snooze feature
- Security option to turn on the light randomly while you're away
- Back-ups: optional alarm beep, power failure back-up

There are so many amazing features with this clock, and it is something that can be enjoyed and made use of by everyone using the bedroom where it's situated. I love that you can play music and enjoy a guided meditation, and as for the white noise I know that this is something I will most definitely be making use of. As much as I struggle with waking in the morning, I equally share at bedtime when it comes to drifting off my sleep. There have been times I have ransacked the PODcasts trying to find something that will eventually bore me off to sleep. 

Disclaimer: I was provided samples of the above products in exchange for this post. All views and opinions expressed are completely honest and my own.