6 great Father's Day gifts

Cooky Jack Nicholson and his daughter, 1969, LIFE magazine

Father's Day is June 16th this year...right around the corner! Here are 6 great gifts that any dad would love to receive...

6 Inexpensive, Last-minute Christmas Gift Ideas

Alright. So there are seven days (or less, depending on when you're reading this) left until Christmas, and you still haven't done all (or any) of your holiday shopping. You have a few ladies left to shop for, but you can't think of anything awesome to get them. You've thought about taking the easy route and just buying them a bucket of assorted popcorn or a packet of socks, but then you realized that those are pretty crummy gifts. Well, worry not, sweet reader, because I've got you covered! Here are ten inexpensive and easily-attainable last-minute gift ideas...and no rush-order shipping required:

2012 Holiday Gift Guide: 30 Under $30!

To close out the An Air of Surprise 2012 Holiday Gift Guide, I've rounded up 30 gifts that are each $30 or less to cover anyone else on your gift list that I may have missed! Ideas after the jump!

For Your Best Friend, Who Feels Most Comfortable in Suits and Once Whittled You a Flower

A vintage desk lamp, $24.80.

A luxe plate for his iPhone, $27, or have him custom make his own, $33.

A bike bag, $179, for biking to class or across the state.

A set of these quirky, chrome-finished dart coat hooks, $29.50.

Manly soap. $6.50 for a 4-5 ounce bar, $22 for the set.

A classic Zippo lighter that will last him forever, $16.95.

One (or two, or five!) super nifty beeswax candle, in the shape of a jar or bottle. $10 and up!

A travel hammock, $35, for camping and such.

A bike mount for his iPhone, $50.

A deck of cards fit for a gentleman, $15.

Something stereotypically manly, like a flannel button down, $49.90.

A gun tie clip, $30. Subtle.

American Crew Ultramatte to give his hair the ultimate masculine finish (that'll still be soft enough for your to touch!), about  $15. 

A mini robot vacuum, $16, for when he's too lazy to sweep away crumbs himself. 

 

A framed print of one of his favorite music icons, $109 and up.

Two juicy 8 oz. steaks delivered to his doorstep, $99.95

A set of ts02 thinksound headphones, which deliver a perfectly clear, open sound, $80.

(Coltrane; Steak)

For Your Sweet Dad, Who Used to Carry You on His Shoulders and Give You Bites of His Cereal

Wool and salmon skin house shoes, $59.

A bull-shaped corkscrew and bottle opener, $20.

Reasonable Doubt LP, Jay-Z's first (and arguable best) album ever released, which Dad will appreciate for the exceptional lyricism and smooth beats that seem to be lacking in today's Hip-hop music, $27.

Delicious maple syrup, $24.95, with just a hint of bourbon.

An adjustable iPad stand for watching movies with Mom and typing long emails, $39.95.

A sampling of six dry spice rubs, $14.95.

A chance to take a Ferrari (or some other fancy pants car) for a spin...prices vary!

A curiously perfect lasagna pan for neat, mess-free slices, about $30!

A knit beanie for his bald head ^.^, $19.95.

A stainless steel mug that will keep his evening tea hot and his morning smoothie cold, $22.85.

A couple of vintage comic books, featuring his favorite superhero, $5 and up.

A wine aerator, about $30, for the perfect glass every time!

A classic and comfortable shawl-collar sweater, $75.

The ever-popular beer-of-the-month club subscription, $37/month.

(Comics image; beer image) 

Gift Guide #8: For Your Absolute Best Friend, Who, Despite Being Terribly Forgetful, is a True Gentleman and THE Best Saxophonist You've Ever Heard

An EvoWood pocket knife, $79.95, made from walnut wood and

finished with a masculine dark stain.

  A nifty red wire bow tie, $20. (P.S. Also, two wooden bow ties, and

a license plate bow tie!)

A mini wooden iPhone dock that he'll love because they're handmade

and amplify sound naturally, $70.

The Chef's Pepper Collection, $29.95, which features six different

peppers from all over the world, that will inspire him to be his own

Master Chef.

The Moustache Grower's Guide, so that maybe he'll sprout a 'stache

of his own, $9.95.

A wool scarf that's manly enough for him to actually wear and stylish

enough for you to appreciate, $48.

A bullet-shaped Fisher Space Pen, $21.25, which is made from a real

bullet casing!

A homemade batch of his favorite cookies. Yum!

Seriously suave moustache cufflinks, $24.

The book The Gift of Nothing, along with a sweet note written inside, because you know he'd think it was more than enough, $10.19.

I hope you've enjoyed these gift guides! I'm so thrilled that I got to share just  a small bit of the people I love the most with you! Swing by tomorrow...I just might have a little pressie for you!

(The Gift of Nothing image, Snickerdoodle image)

Gift Guide #7: For Your Grandfather, Who Always Looks on the Bright Side of Things, Drives a Big, Black Pick-Up Truck, and Always Talks Too Loud on the Phone

A classic V-neck sweater, $59.50, made from super soft cotton and

cashmere.

Roasted pecans, perfectly coated with a layer of caramel to subtly

satisfy both his sweet tooth and his love for pecans. $30 for an 18 oz.

tin, shipped in a sophisticated. black gift box. 

A subscription to Netflix, which he would totally love...as soon as

you explain to him exactly what Netflix is, $7.99/month!

The Book Hook, a beautifully simple bookmark, 30.00 €.

A hilarious, but oh so fitting, wooden toothpick case, $15.

A Christmas card with a handwritten note inside that will make his

heart swell, $4.

Pop back tomorrow for the last gift guide: gifts for best

guy friends/boyfriends!

(Netflix image)