i have heard from so many of you this year, begging for help with what seems to be the hardest task of all:  finding a valentine’s day gift for the man in your life.  and i fully admit, it is tricky.  after all, a holiday built on pink hearts and flowers doesn’t exactly scream testosterone.  the key, i think, is to let go and admit that valentine’s day is largely a girl holiday.  with that in mind, stop taking your guy’s gift quite so seriously.  he’ll be much happier getting something that’s sweet, funny and somehow involves you being naked.

i asked my hubs what the perfect gift for a guy was for valentine’s day, and well, his response can’t safely be printed.  but, his point is well taken.  find a cheeky valentine’s day card (my absolute favorites this year are these pun-ny versions from etsy seller westmama, who also happens to be a dear friend!), tie it to a can of whipped cream or a box containing the lacy negligee of your choice (since lingerie gifts really are for him anyway), and make sure you include an explicit proposition or two.  trust me, he’ll never notice (or care) that his gift cost you less than $5.

when in doubt, i tend to err on the side of corny when it comes to men’s valentines – pink champagne and scented candles just aren’t going to cut it.  urban outfitters has some fabulous guy-friendly ideas, but this box of candy hearts from urban outfitters ($8) is my absolute favorite.  it’s funny, just a little sentimental, and guaranteed to make you the coolest girlfriend/wife around.  especially if you pair it with a set of furry handcuffs.  (no, seriously.)

if you’re looking for something a little higher end, another favorite gift of mine for v-day is a really excellent bottle of his favorite liquor.  no, this does not mean champagne.  pick something he loves, and drinks when he’s celebrating.  a great single malt scotch, perhaps, or a fabulous tequila.  this works with nearly any price point – just get the best you can afford.

last but not least, i think guys sometimes get the short end of the stick when it comes to delivered gifts.  how much do you love seeing the florist show up at your office?  sending flowers isn’t the answer,  but try sending a batch of baked goods straight to his desk.  it’s creative, shows you care, and in almost every case, the way to your man’s heart really is through his stomach.  my absolute favorite for gifting are the round brownies from sugardaddy’s bakery in columbus…the flavor options are unbelievable, they’re gorgeous to look at, and they can be on his desk within 24 hours!

men are such tricky people to shop for, aren’t they?  we want to get them clothes, and they want video games.  it’s a dilemma for the ages.  but there is one thing i think most men enjoy receiving more than they’ll readily admit, and it’s high quality shaving products.  it’s something they’ll never, ever buy for themselves, but honestly, a great shave can be life-altering (or so i’m told).

i know it feels a little metro to get a guy face products.  but i’ve gotten calls months after the holidays from the (extremely un-metro) men in my life, asking me where i bought “that shaving stuff you got me for christmas”, so they could restock.  i’ve visited their homes and found the bottles, all but empty, strewn around their bathrooms.  they might not squeal with delight on christmas morning, but they’ll use it, and they’ll love it.  really.

my pick this year is the “man’s best friends” set from origins ($37.50).  it’s not complicated, which is key – i don’t think most men are up for a five-step facial program.  just two products (you get a full-size and trial size of each): a shave cream and an after-shave skin soother.  the scent is utterly inoffensive (mostly peppermint and eucalyptus).  and it seems to make my hubs’ skin quite happy.  that’s really about it for the list of “musts” when it comes to men’s products.

oh yeah, this one’s also very last-minute-gift friendly – pick it up at any origins counter, but you can also score free shipping online (through today only) on origins.com.

i got some requests for guy gifts over the weekend and, i agree – they’re trouble when it comes to gifting.  with my hubs, it’s all feast or famine – either i’m filled with great ideas, or i’m desperately without.  fortunately this year, i have a few extras worth sharing.  like, say, this robot:

when i first spotted the tank robot clock ($45), i thought it would be perfect for my gadget/tech-crazed hubs.  but his response was less than inspiring (”so, all he does is tell the time?”).  okay…glad i didn’t order it for you, honey.

so, i now think this robot is better-suited for the guy who dabbles in gadgets, not the guy who’s entirely, obsessively, all-consumed with them (ahem.).  or for a guy with a sense of humor who needs a cool desk clock (perhaps even an especially hip boss).  but personally, i’m calling this one a perfect dad gift.  it feels fun and modern, but has a touch of nostalgia too – like a robot toy he would have played with as a kid.  and it has nothing to do with golf…always a plus with dad gifts in my book.

this might also make a good brother gift – it’s a nice nod to all those years you spent breaking his toys (or was it the other way around?), but a solid step up from replacing his demolished he-man action figure.

(by the way, little tip…the entire perpetual kid website is a fab spot for boy gifts.  give it a browse!)

EDIT:  i was duped by my mother wrong, father’s day is not this sunday, it’s a week from sunday:  june 21, to be exact. but still, it’s definitely time to come up with a creative idea or two to make dad smile.

this is actually my least-favorite gifting holiday…i just have dads (and stepdads, and granddads…) in my life that are tough to buy for.  in case you have the same issues, i thought i’d forego the traditional cologne, neckties and golf-themed goodies (i’m sure you thought of those all on your own) to give you a few ideas that should work for just about any dad out there – at a price point that shouldn’t break anyone’s bank.

(would-be) metro dad:  if your dad’s in desperate need of some facial TLC, my hubs swears by the men’s products at kiehl’s.  they’re not at all girly, and very effective (despite some cheesy slogan-ing that he enjoys mocking).  the facial fuel face wash, “ultimate man” body scrub soap” and brushless shave cream all win high marks from the hubs for being high-lather, clean-rinsing and very manly-smelling.  the energizing starter kit kiehl’s put together for father’s day contains most of the hubs’ favorite goodies, and is a gifting steal at $28.50. 

sentimental dad:  if he cried at your graduation, and never missed a ballet recital, a reprint of a favorite childhood photo from chic canvas is an absolutely perfect gift.  the folks at chic canvas tell me they’re still delivering in time for dad’s day, but snap to it.  just upload a photo (the two of you when you were a baby, a dad/daughter wedding dance photo, maybe even an old snapshot of dad playing t-ball as a kid), and chic canvas will print it on canvas, wrap it and mount it, so it arrives ready to hang.  i was lucky enough to test these guys out and, trust me, the results are guaranteed to impress!  prices start at $63 for an 8×10.

hard working dad:  for a dad who secretly loves his days at the office, indulge his inner workaholic with a little goodness from knock knock office supplies, a company that never fails to entertain me.  their “make it work” bundle is the perfect combo of ingredients to add a little levity to his work day, without going overboard.  for $30, he’ll get a to-do notepad, a set of “stuff to…” file folders, a weekly planner mousepad and binder clips to remind him whether he should “read”, “file” or “send” what he’s holding.  bonus points if you tack on a gift card to his favorite office-adjacent coffee shop.

travelin’ man: whether it’s for work or for play, this dad just can’t stay off an airplane.  i absolutely love this switchblade toothbrush from metaphys, which comes complete with three different heads and a leather case.  as the description says, it’s all very james bond…for under $60.  (while you’re there, check out the rest of the fabulous a+r store…dad gifts galore!)

classic dad:  if most of your dad’s stories start with “back when i was a kid…”, he’s probably a sucker for the simpler things in life.  this “back in time” alarm clock (about $45) is the perfect accent for his bedside table or office.  the sleek, ’40s style design will remind him of days gone by, and he’ll never miss his favorite NPR program again.

here’s hoping one of these ideas will fit the bill.  does anyone else have any no-fail father’s day ideas?  i know there must be dozens of other creative ideas out there!

father’s day is always one of those really tricky events for me – men are just tough to buy for in general, but i happen to have a lot of people in my family who, well, lack those “fatherly” hobbies (football and golf) that make for surefire gift solutions.

so, i was thrilled to come across this option from kiehl’s, which feels like the perfect gift solution for a dad that’s impossible to buy for.

in general, unless they’re certifiably metro, most dads aren’t into grooming products as gifts (the annual bottle of cologne notwithstanding). that’s why i love this limited edition “jesse james” gift set from kiehl’s. it’s a compilation of their very best men’s toiletries (my hubs is completely addicted to the ultimate man body scrub soap it contains), wrapped up in a rugged, manly west coast choppers (read: harley davidson legend) dopp kit.

so, he’ll love it for the hell’s angels vibe, and the body products will just feel like a bonus. fortunately for you, that bonus means a much better-groomed dad/granddad/husband/babydaddyfor months to come. i love a gift that gives back.

pick it up exclusively at kiehl’s boutiques or online for $66, while they last.

i have no idea why, but men are just impossible for me to choose gifts for. every year, i spend at least twice as much time picking out gifts for the men in my life as i do the women. i’m not sure if they’re really that tough, or if it’s just that venus/mars thing, but i get a little sick of buying the standard cologne, tie or golf paraphernalia. so this year, i’m getting out of the rut.

one thing i know for sure is that the way to a man’s heart is undoubtedly through his stomach. enter the custom chip & dip kit from route 11. for just $33, you can choose four bags of chips and two dips, and they’ll arrive at his door fresh and ready for devouring in front of the televion during all of those christmas day football games. plus, you can choose crazy, boy-friendly flavors like habanero and dill pickle, or cheesy bacon dip (my hubs is totally drooling right now if he’s reading this).

another surefire success is alcohol – i don’t think there’s a guy in the world that would turn down a six-pack. i love the idea of picking up his favorite spirit, and tying this keychain flask to the bottle…especially since the flask is only $20, leaving you plenty of room to splurge on that 21-year-old glenlivet.

the man bag is a tricky business – you want something functional, and probably semi-professional looking, but it has to be unquestionably masculine. this version by serious sporting goods designer filson is rugged but tailored, incredibly well-designed (think solid brass hardware, double layers of waterproof canvas on the bottom, and leather trim made from the same stuff they use for horse bridles), and will be a great lightweight option, since it’s primarily canvas. and, since it’s coming from a company that designs hunting and fishing gear, no worries about the “it’s too metro” argument.

i love using gift-giving holidays as an excuse to equip the men in my life with things i think they should have. some might call it selfish, but i love it when people buy me things i’d never be able to justify buying myself. this ‘bottoms up’ hoodie by loomstate is a classic example. loomstate uses the most amazingly soft organic cotton, and this is a piece that will be a weekend staple for him for years to come – but i don’t know any guy that would spend $170 on a hoodie, no matter how much time i spend giving them the ‘cost per wear’ argument. plus, really: wouldn’t you rather borrow this than that threadbare fleece pullover he’s had since 1983?

or, if he’s past the hoodie stage of life, consider a classic cashmere sweater – i can’t say enough good things about the cashmere from vince, and this v-neck style is classic enough to work for just about any guy.

watches always feel like a great gift idea, until you get to the counter at the department store, where you’re promptly overwhelmed by the options. the truth is, i’ve tried a few times, and i’ve never been right yet. but if you have a guy on your list that’s on the hip side of square, i think this teak watch by nixon is about as cool as it gets. plus, it’s available from our friends at active endeavors, who give shoppingsmycardio readers that lovely 20% discount with code ‘cardio’, making this watch come in comfortably under $200.

if you’re buying for a guy that’s more geek than chic, the new ipod nano with video is probably the most obvious choice. i have to admit – they’re pretty dang cool. i like the product RED version, but i’m guessing most true blue geeks are going to go for the plain silver model. but if you’re looking for something a little more off the beaten path, i love these star wars USB flash drives from urban outfitters. they come packed with wallpaper, film trailers and clips from the movies – and he’ll be the coolest guy in the computer lab when he’s saving things to a storm trooper.

and if none of this fits the bill, aren’t the boys always telling us that the godfather is the greatest movie of all time? even if they’re dead wrong, this brand new annotated script is the ultimate guide to the ultimate guy movie. with stills, trivia, behind-the-scenes details plus a full script, he’ll be doing his best brando impression well after new year’s. pair it with the DVD box set, and this is one gift guaranteed to make you little miss popularity.