50 Perfect Presents for Dad

My husband and our 2 year-old. #wrapped

Since becoming a dad, my husband has...well, let's just say he's changed.  Don't get me wrong, it's mostly all good stuff;  where he once listened to hard core(ish) rock, he and my 4 year-old now rock out to the new Justin Timberlake CD. For a guy who was mostly incapable of producing tears, I catch him getting misty-eyed when our kids do, well, anything, like putting on their own pants or waking up in the morning without wet ones. Kids will do that to a big strong man - turn them from tough to totally sappy, and before they know it, they're humming 'Under the Sea' and playing the evil Sea Witch in a homegrown Ariel musical.

I've rounded up 50 perfect presents from Intercity Shopping Centre, from the most styling shoes and clothes to the latest, greatest gadgets, to thank him for all the times he 'manned up' to be a super great dad to your kids.

Happy shopping and, of course, Happy Father's Day! 

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Sarah's Score: Ten Tree Apparel

Say goodbye to buyer's remorse - with the current crop of socially responsible clothing companies, from Lauren Bush's FEED to the now-famous TOMS, we can now shop cute clothes with a guilt-free conscience. One of the latest to hop on the trend? Ten Tree Apparel, a Canadian company that shot to fame after a big win on CBC's Dragons' Den (see below if you missed the episode). The company plants 10 trees for each item purchased while ensuring that all of its clothing is produced responsibly, allowing all of us to make a difference with the clothes we choose.  Great concept. Cool tees. How awesome is that?

Find Ten Tree Apparel at Boathouse today. Happy shopping! x

Ten Tree Baseball Tee, $39.99, Boathouse

Ten Tree Hoody, $79.99, Boathouse

Beyond the LBD: What to Wear to a Wedding

#ringfail

While there are so many things inherently beautiful about a wedding (the love, the joy, the open bar), they're also breeding grounds for myriad 'don'ts'. Emotions are heightened and people genuinely want to do their best but sometimes it all gets a little lost in translation. Take wedding guests; I mean, how many times have you seen it all go sideways when you combine a woman (usually the crazy aunt, just sayin'), in a tight dress, wearing a pair of heels 2 inches too high, after too many glasses of Sauvignon, with a bad deejay prone to spells of the dreaded Greased Lightning medley.  Up goes the skirt, off go the shoes, and suddenly you're more familiar with Aunt Lena than you ever hoped to be. 

I've compiled a list of basic rules to follow when searching for that perfect outfit for your next summer wedding.  Keep these tips in mind and you'll be two steps ahead of the rest of the guest list:

WHAT (NOT) TO WEAR TO A WEDDING:

• Never wear white (or off-white or cream or écru). This is a rule by which everyone at the wedding should abide, except, of course, for the blushing bride.
• Avoid all-black dresses, elegant and chic as they might be. Black tends to look too funerial and this, my friends, is the happiest of occasions. If you do wear black, be sure to keep it celebratory with feathers, frills or other playful embellishments. A bright clutch or earrings will also brighten things up.
• Choose killer shoes that won't kill your feet. You do NOT want to be that barefoot girl on the dancefloor, no matter how low-key the wedding might be.
• Avoid anything too tight, too short, or too cleavage-exposing - this is a wedding, not a nightclub.
• This probably doesn't need to be said but no jeans, please.
• Find out what colour dresses the bridesmaids are wearing, then make sure your dress doesn't look exactly like them, especially if you've been left out of the wedding party.

Last, but certainly not least, have FUN! As a wedding guest, you can (and should) step out of your comfort zone.  Assuming the bride isn't a complete bridezilla, most women want their guests to look and feel amazing on their special day. I've put together 5 fun looks for you to try out for your next summer wedding.

Click on the slideshow below to get inspired x

 

1. Dare to go BRIGHT: Floral Chiffon Maxi, $198, Le Château; Trapezoid Earrings, $9.95, Le Château; Ankle Strap Sandals, $59.95, Le Château; Browline Sunglasses, $12, ALDO 

2. Dare to be BOLD: Eyelet Flare Dress, $49.95, American Eagle; Envelope Clutch, $35, ALDO; Colour-Blocked Sandal, $69.99, Sears; Cat-Eye Sunglasses, $12, ALDO

3. Dare to be a little EDGY: Cut-Out Belt, $9.95, Le Château; Coral Linen-Blend Clutch, $29.95, Le Château; Ankle-Strap Sandal, $59.95, Le Château; Chiffon Print Dress, $169.95, Le Château; Gemstone Drop Earrings, $15, Le Château

4. Dare to do SHINY: Chiffon Colour-Block Dress, $88, RW&CO.; Silver Clutch, $40, ALDO; Silver Strappy Sandals, $80, ALDO; Basic Pashmina, $15, Le Château; Jaguar Statement Ring, $12, ALDO

5. Dare to go HI-LOW: Trapezoid Earrings, $18, Le Château; Jeweled Lace Clutch, $49.95, Le Château; Zip-Back Pumps, $80, ALDO; Lancome L'Absolue Nu, $35, Sears; Chiffon Hi-Low Gown, $169.95, Le Château

Sarah's Score: Summer Skin Savers

Clinique Sun SPF 50 with SolarSmart Face Cream, $25, Sears

Clinique After Sun Rescue Balm with Aloe, $26, Sears

I'm the kind of girl who gets back from a resort and then has people ask, 'So, when did you say you're going on vacation?' One too many bad sunburns as a teen have turned me into a floppy hat, SPF 600-slathering solar phobe, which means that my summer tan looks about one shade darker than a Geisha girl. But here's the problem with all of that sunscreen: it might stop me from getting a burn, but it also makes my skin break out like a teenage dream. Enter Clinique's Sun line, with a range of SPF's for every level of paranoia. The SolarSmart technology stabilizes against the burning effects of UVA and UVB rays while simultaneously adding solar-activated antioxidants to help prevent signs of aging. The Clinique Sun SPF 50 Face Cream is water and sweat-resistant, plus oil free and dermatologist-tested for sensitive skin so it won't cause breakouts. And when you've spent a few too many hours at the beach? Try Clinique's brilliant After Sun Rescue Balm with Aloe to help minimize peeling and provide soothing post-sun repair (also oil-free and non-acnegenic, btw).

Ahh, this is what I call summer love...