Act Now! What Dads Should Covet this Holiday Season
Posted on 12 22, 2008 under Doodads, Uncategorized by reviewdad | Comments
In the crush of the holiday season, a lot gets left to the last minute and being the kind of dads that we are (selfless, sacrificing), the focus is clearly on our broods. Same goes for your partner – conversations related to gift giving revolve around the kids. You can feel good about yourself as a parent but where does that leave you as a dude – most likely with a couple of gifts that are nothing that you’d hoped for if you dared to hope at all.
If you’re anything like us at Noodad, you feel, upon reflection that you had little opportunity (or maybe it’s too little energy) to drop those all too critical hints to the Mrs. that help ensure that you don’t end up with socks in a dopp kit or a cartoon-themed necktie.
While time is short, there’s still time. So in the spirit of brotherly assistance, we offer the 2008 Edition of our “What Dads Should Covet this Holiday Season” list – intended to save you time (from thinking about what you should covet) and energy: our suggestion is to print this article out and leave it on the kitchen table TONIGHT or just leave this page up on the computer screen for your significant other to see next time they check email.
One last note before the list: being the responsible dads that we are at Noodad, we know that you are as well so we’ve avoided the “fantasy-grade” gifts and grounded this list in reality that makes you look sensible and which exponentially increases your likelihood of getting them.
e-Pad Laptop Desk (Brookstone, online or in store, $29)
Soft, portable and keeps you boys (the other ones) cool while you “multi-task” in front of the TV. What we like about this is that the pad is more like a beanbag vs. the typical wedge of foam which means that it better contours to you lousy posture.
Canon 50mm 1.8 Prime Lense (B&H Photo online or your local camera shop, $89)
Lovingly nicknamed “The Nifty 50″ and “The Plastic Fantastic” by those who own it, this “prime” (not a zoom) lens is without a doubt the best deal out there when it comes to DSLR lenses. It is the perfect lens for family use because at f1.8, it allows you to shoot with very little light and at high ISOs like 800 and 1600 without graininess. You’ll be able to take pictures of the kids napping or opening presents in the warm glow of the Christmas Tree without a flash and you’ll get pictures that look the way you see them. It’s such a great lens, it stays on ReviewDad’s camera all of the time. But don’t take my word for it alone. For Canon DSLRs only.
Parental Advisory CD Coasters (Uncommon Goods, online only, $20)
You may have seen bowls made out of old records but you ain’t seen $#@% like this before! Coasters made from old CDs that carry the Parental Advisory: Explicit Content warning label most of us were introduced to when we tried to buy 2Live Crew’s As Nasty As They Want to Be back in ‘89…on tape. Perfect for your man-cave…or for the living room when the in-laws come to visit!
Levenger TrueWriter Metalist Fountain Pen (Levenger, online or in stores, $62)
No need to look like every other drone in your office using the free bic pens from the supply closet. Bring some class to your work persona with a quality pen and a fountain pen none the less! This piece of writing hardware is a great value and uses pre-filled in cartridges so you can skip the whole mess thing. ReviewDad has also found that the ideas flow better with a quality pen and in real honest-to-god ink.
Dell M109S DLP Projector (dell.com, $499)
It’s not cheap but it’s a bargain when you think about it. Let’s call it movie night for the family in the palm of your hand as a means of justification. This thing is tiny but delivers with a SVGA resolution of 858×600 and images up to 60″ diagonal. Perfect for projecting the ballgames…OR Ratatouille against the side of your garage on a warm Summer’s evening.
LG Bluetooth Solar Recharging Hands-free Car Speaker (BestBuy, online or in store, $99)
If you’re like me, you already have devices that compete for your one (or maybe two) cigarette lighters – a cell phone charger and your GPS. This gives you the hands-free calling you’re looking for without adding yet another charger/cable to the mess on your car floor.
Subscription to BestLife Magazine ($19.97)
Perhaps the only printed publication that aligns with Noodad.com’s sense of class and humor, appreciation for the finer things, and view of fatherhood. Actually, on that last point, it’s actually the ONLY men’s magazine that tackles fatherhood in every issue!
Added bonuses: you can read this on an airplane even if you’re seated next to a little old lady or teen and not feel like a dirty young/old man AND if your kid grabs it off of the coffee table, there’s not that much you might need to explain.
Lego Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures for Wii, PS3 and Xbox (everywhere, $49)
The Lego-derived titles (there’s Star Wars and Batman also) stand out in the universe of games for their appealing combination of nostalgia, humor and graphics. Regardless of what kind of gamer you are – casual or “nerdcore” as Noodad’s wife calls it, you’ll have a blast playing through the movies you grew up on as an inch and a half tall “action” hero.
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