Yesterday was Father’s Day, and unlike Mother’s Day, which has certain “recognized” gifts (breakfast in bed, flowers, maybe some sort of “treat yourself” gift certificate or homemade coupon), there really isn’t anything quite as “one size fits all” for Dad.  Based on a brief search on the Internet, golf balls, ties and mugs seem to pop up on at least a couple of lists, but as a retiree whose golf clubs were last used as a coat rack circa 1992 and who could never drink enough coffee for all the mugs he already has, my dad is NOT the universal recipient for these gifts.

I know lots of people who wrack their brains trying to come up with something for their dads that expresses how amazing, wonderful and awesome they think their dads are.  My dad, for one, deserves the world for everything he’s done for me.  There’s the superficial stuff, of course … for example, my car always has a full tank of gas when I get back from a business trip, and I don’t think I’ve done my own grocery shopping since my dad moved out here in 2013 (and not just idle grocery shopping, mind you … based on how much he saves with coupons, he could go competitive).  But there’s also the deeper stuff that I don’t always thank him for in the moment.  You should see him with my son.  While I’m at work, he designs and builds gigantic box forts for Blake.  I discover Nerf guns hidden all around my house so that Blake can find them and ambush Granddaddy (unless Granddaddy gets to them first).  He planted a garden so Blake could grow and pick his own favorite vegetables.  In short, he offers my little boy the same kind of enthusiasm and fun and creativity and laughter that he gave me when I was a little girl and that contributed so much to who I am today.  I will never be able to express to him how grateful I am that Blake can have that same upbringing and how awesome it is that I can experience it again from a different perspective.

BUT unlike a lot of people, it’s not hard for me to come up with that perfect gift for Dad.  We all get something from each of our parents, and I get my love of fashion from my dad.  He’s always had a “style,” and when online shopping became a thing, I think he embraced it just as quickly as I did.  Much like me, he puts things in his shopping cart or on his wish list and checks them periodically to see if they’ve gone on sale.  He’s better at waiting than I am, so to give him some optionality, I got him a little shopping spree at Nordstrom (www.Nordstrom.com) in case he finds waiting as hard as I do after the Memorial Day sales have been picked through.

So cheers to you, Dad!  Have a great time shopping!  I hope you get a terrific score like this tomato red Givenchy dress I got from Farfetch (www.farfetch.com) for 50% off!  I love you so much and so does Blake.  xoxo