Happy Shopping

Father’s Day – a hisime to celebrate the most important man in your life, DIY-fiascos and rancid jokes included, and acknowledge what makes him truly special. No one is stopping you from running to the supermarket 15 minutes before Daddy dearest wakes up to pick up a crate of his favorite craft brew before heading home and serving breakfast in bed like you did last year, and the year before that. But this year, why not spice things up with these truly hip gadgets that will keep him occupied for weeks to come?

Gifts for the aspiring microbrew magician:

What’s the only thing Dad’s love more than shouting useless pieces of half-remembered advice during their child’s T-Ball game? Cracking open a cold one of course! Here are two boozy gifts that will make his Father’s Day one may never remember but certainly won’t forget!

The BottleLoft ($38):

Nothing gets between a man and his beer – not even the ridiculously overpriced fresh produce you just purchased from the local farmer’s market. Put a stop to his tomfoolery and end the never-ending fridge space battle with BottleLoft. Give the gift of peace of mind with these practical magnetic strips that keep his beer cold, secure and out of the way!

West Coast Style IPA Brewing Kit ($40):

Make dreams come true this Father’s Day with this one gallon IPA brewing kit from Uncommon. For just $40 dollars, you could help him transform your kitchen into a veritable brewery. We promise, the look of pure unadulterated joy will almost make up for the frothy pans and general mess he will inevitably end up making.

In need of a little more gin-speration? (Dad jokes are the best) Here is a complete list of booze-tastic gifts that he will adore!

Gifts that will last a lifetime:

Searching for a gift that goes beyond the bottom of a bottle, let’s look at what Dad may not know he wants but definitely needs this Father’s Day we these unusual gifts!

AncestryDNA Report ($79):

Looking for a gift that he’ll appreciate for years to come? AncestryDNA helps him unlock his origin story by breaking down his heritage into easy to read charts and geographic diagrams. All it takes is one quick cotton swab and the rest is history! While this test is expensive, it is something that he certainly won’t forget, and definitely will appreciate.

Force1 UDI Drone ($109):

Finding a drone under $200 dollars that is worth flying is a tough task. However, the highly rated Force1 UDI drone boasts a respectable $109 price tag and comes replete with VR headset, HD camera and remote control. Despite the formidable price tag this drone will let Dad explore his creative side by enabling him to take photos and videos in 720p! All while soaring over the neighborhood and terrifying the local avian population!

Gifts that will help him in the long run

Sick and tired of Dad’s one-day diets? Fed up with his quinoa smoothies and probiotic health shots? Save yourself the headache this Father’s day with these fitness gifts that promise to help him shed those extra pounds without driving you up the wall!

FitBit Alta ($139):

Give the gift of health this Father’s Day with this lightweight, stylish fitness tracker. The FitBit Alta will help Dad get his butt off the couch and onto the track with friendly step-count reminders. Helping him stay on top of his fitness is a gift that will keep on giving, and will stay with him long after the cards and wrapping paper have been thrown out.

Ultimate Summit iPhone Armband ($9):

Looking for a cheap gift that he’ll use every day, the Ultimate Summit armband is the perfect choice! At only $9 dollars this armband is extremely reasonably priced and will let Dad take his 80’s jam-pop tunes with him wherever his heart desires. From running to rowing and Depeche Mode to Duran Duran this armband will serve as a constant companion for a fit Father looking to revamp his workouts.

Need some more fitness gifts? Here’s a list of nine more of the hottest gadgets of 2017! And if you’re still not satisfied, head on over to our Pinterest board, which has even more inspiration. Happy (almost) Father’s Day!

It’s hard not to think of summer and smile. From long beach walks stretching late into the evening to amateur “grill-masters” cremating the sausages you paid good money for, the season has a special place in most of our hearts. It’s a time to shake off the routine malaise of working life – to be wild, to be free. At least, that’s how most of us feel until we get our first burn of the season and vilely curse the harbinger of prickly, prickly pain we refer to as the sun. Well, let’s all stay one step ahead of the game this summer and avoid these all-too-common beach catastrophes that can spoil the best three months of the year. Cool? Cool.

The Classic ‘Sunburns-are-all-mental’ beach companion

We all have that one friend who thinks that a combination of SPF 2 tanning oil and flipping over at regular intervals somehow makes her immune to UV rays. And, of course, you inevitably become the pal she’ll call when she has turned the color of a ripe tomato and needs someone to paint her in four layers of aloe. People, don’t let Sunburned Susan ruin the beach party. Here are two lightweight beach tents that will provide the shade needed to make sure everyone has a swell time.

SEMOO lightweight beach tent ($20)

The SEMOO beach tent is a marvel of modern day engineering; weighing only 2.4 pounds, it’s both portable and practical. And no need to fiddle around with random sticks and stakes – the SEMOO pops up in a manner of minutes. Easy!

EasyGo umbrella beach tent ($50)

This tent, while slightly more expensive, does come replete with windows and a ripcord setup system that makes erecting the tent a breeze. Weighing in at 8.4 pounds, this bad boy is slightly heavier but a whole lot sturdier.

Haven’t found your pick?

Here’s a comprehensive list of other viable options.

The Timeless “Sandy sandwiches” fiasco

A beach picnic, what a lovely idea! That is, until you bite into your crunchy, sand-filled PB and J. Keep the sand on the beach and out of your bag with these fashionable and practical beach totes.

CGear sand free tote ($30)

The first completely sand-proof tote, it’s innovative mesh technology ensures that those pesky grains stay where they belong. Added bonus: it’s pretty cute, too!

Mossimo Mesh tote ($10)

This option is for those looking to ball on a budget. Even though it doesn’t promise the same failsafe sand-busting technology as the CGear, it is made out of durable mesh that won’t fray or break easily. It’s spacious and comes in a variety of nifty colors.

Don’t like what you sea (pun definitely intended)?

Here’s an in depth list of this year’s trendiest beach totes.

The “How-the-heck-is-this-towel-still-wet” disaster

Lastly and arguably most importantly here are some quick dry beach towels to improve your water-side experience. Gone are the days of those cumbersome cotton towels that seem to retain water from last summer’s beach trip!

Quickdry towel from Bodi towels ($11)

This anti-bacterial, lightweight towel can be folded down and wrung out easily. And at only $11 for an extra-large size, this towel is extremely economical and practical.

Travel towel bundle from Wildhorn Outfitters ($28)

What’s better than a single quick-dry towel? Three towels for the price of one! These towels can hold up to four times their weight in water and come pre-packed in a nifty travel bag.

Neither of them taking your fancy?

Here are some of Amazon’s best sellers.

Happy beaching!

With National Wine Day upon us and summer fast approaching, it’s time to address the issue occupying our minds: how are we going to keep our drinks cold this party season? We’ve all heard the same horror story hundreds of times – the dolt tasked with keeping the wine chilled forgets his cooler at home and spoils the bonfire. His sheer incompetency leaves you with nothing but steamy Sauvignon Blanc, and your mood is inevitably soured by the molten wine swilling around your infuriated mouth. Thankfully, Andy the amateur won’t be ruining any more of your outdoor parties this summer season, as we’ve compiled a list of the top five portable wine coolers that promise to keep your Chardonnay frostier than Guy Fieri’s tips!

Corkcicle Canteen – $35 (25 oz.)

Who needs to lug around a cooler full of bottles when this canteen can keep your wine cold for up to 25 hours! In two convenient sizes (25 oz. and 60 oz.), this durable, shatter-proof steel growler will keep your wine chilled come hell or high water. And starting at $35, the Corkcicle Canteen won’t leave you scouring the pavement for pennies to afford some Two Buck Chuck.

Yeti Canteen – $40 (26 oz.)

This canteen (26 oz., 36 oz., 64 oz.) is designed for our more intrepid explorers looking for an option as rugged as the booze fueled routes they plan on climbing. This stainless steel bad boy includes wide-mouth “Over-the-Nose” technology, perfect for people who view travel glasses as weakness and prefer swigging straight from the bottle.

Oenophilia – $25 (25 oz.)

This vacuum sealed canteen is the cheapest of the bunch by a wide margin. Stylish and handy this canteen is available with either a red or white wine finish, perfect for the forgetful drinkers among us.

Vinotrek – $40 (25 oz.)

This space-age canteen will add a little bit of class to your outdoor function. Whilst it may look more Death Star than Death Valley, it is constructed from 18/8 stainless steel and will withstand all manner of scrapes and scratches.  The package also includes a collapsible wine pourer which will ensure that not a single drop is wasted during transfer.

EcoVessel – $40 (25 oz.)

The simplest of the five canteens, the EcoVessel boasts that it will keep your wine at ‘ideal’ temperature for over 36 hours! Sporting a traditional wine bottle shape and triple insulation technology this canteen is ideal for those long summer nights spent boozing by a bonfire.

Happy trails and happy drinking!

I ran out of foundation yesterday morning so, naturally, I sped over to my nearest drug store to get a replacement before work. I got to the pharmacy, headed over to the makeup section and was instantly overwhelmed. Anyway, as I was perusing, I noticed some options that had various levels of SPF (#sunscreen), and as a New Yorker, with a heat wave upon us, I opted for one of them. I ended up making the wrong decision – I won’t go into the specifics, but cakey is the most diplomatic way I can describe it. Needless to say, I was self-conscious for the rest of the day.

Today, I decided I’d get in the know and do some research. Turns out (I know, I’m the last one to know), there’s a whole market for SPF-infused makeup products! This took me down the road of comparison shopping and I learned a few things that I want to share with you.

So, ladies, listen up – here’s your save and splurge guide to SPF makeup:

FOUNDATION


Save: Loréal True Match Super Blendable Makeup

How much? $10
SPF number? 17
Why is it great? The sunscreen component is made up of pure titanium dioxide, which means less irritation for sensitive skin. Also, the finish is silky enough to feel good, but light enough for a non-cakey look.

Splurge: MAC Studio Waterweight Foundation

How much? $34
SPF number? 30
Why is it great? I got this as a gift last year, and I can tell you, this is the best foundation I’ve ever used. It’s water-based, so it feels like you’re wearing nothing, and you really only need a few drips, which makes for a longer lasting product.

PRIMER

Save: Almay Smart Shade CC Luminous Primer

How much? $7.88
SPF number? 15
Why is it great? This is the stuff of gods. Put on a small amount and instantaneously, that tired look you’ve been reluctantly rocking is gone. Plus, it stays in place all day, so no makeup lugging required.

Splurge: Coola Daydream Mineral Primer

How much? $42
SPF number? 30
Why is it great? It’s weightless, it’s infused with Coola’s signature Plant Protection®, and our VP of marketing can’t live without it. Need I say more?

BB CREAM


Save: Maybelline Dream Fresh BB Cream 8-In-1 Skin Perfector

How much? $8.99
SPF number? 30
Why is it great? As a past Allure Best of Beauty Winner, you know you can trust this to do the job. It’s also oil-free, sheer, and you can add foundation or whatever other makeup you need right on top.

Splurge: Bobbi Brown BB Cream

How much? $46
SPF number? 35
Why is it great? This is the perfect BB option for someone with oily skin. Containing silica, it’ll minimize unwanted shine, and it has brightening and anti-redness ingredients. It’s not very cakey either, so you won’t see any of those ugly creases anywhere!

Happy makeup-ing!