A Man of Substance

I have been very lucky to have a close relationship with my dad- both growing up and now that I am an adult.


He was pretty hands on for my early years when he wasn't working, and I have lots of memories of fun weekends with him and the rest of my family.



As the youngest (by five minutes) of four children, my Dad still took the time to have one-on-one time with me throughout my childhood. He definitely was busy with work, and I remember annoying him with my constant requests to go on bike rides!



We continued to be close even through my parent's divorce, and even though we lived apart through the last couple of years of my schooling and some of my university years, I still saw him regularly. I remember he would drop everything if I needed him, even if I was a six hour drive away.

My Dad gave me away on my wedding day eight years ago, after making sure my future husband lived up to his standards!



I lived in different cities and different countries from 16 to my mid twenties, but have now ended up living just down the street from my Dad. We have coffee together at least once a week, and it is so nice knowing that he is only a couple of minutes away if I need anything.



Now, my Dad is an awesome Granddad to my two sons. He isn't afraid to get down to their level and play with them, joining in with their games and doing lots of piggyback rides.



He was so excited when he found out I was going to be a mum, as he had been told I would lever have children. I know he was a bit shocked at first, as it took a while to sink in, but he loves my two boys and it is great being able to see him a lot so that my boys have another strong male role model in their lives.



We might have different tastes when it comes to music and cars, but we both love running and have done a lot of events together such as The Color Run- even the torrential rain didn't stop us from smiling and having a great time.



I know that I am very lucky to have my dad close by, and it is awesome to be able to see him all the time. I think that Dads don't get a lot of recognition, and so I wanted to share some reasons why my relationship with mine is so special. My Dad is definitely a Man of Substance!

Tommy John has chosen NFL legend Steve Weatherford as their first annual Man of Substance. He embodies characteristics that should be celebrated- family oriented, confident and a deep care for his community. This month, Tommy John will be donating 10% of all second skin boxer brief sales towards the Steve Weatherford World Champion Foundation.

Who is your Man of Substance? Let me know in the comments below!

Father's Day Family Fun

If you are looking for some last minute fun for Father's Day this Sunday, here are a few events on in Christchurch that are family friendly and won't break the bank!

Scarecrow Saturday
5 September // 10am - 1pm // on green beside Hillyers Cafe, Gerald St. Lincoln
Come join in the fun at this annual Lincoln event. Perfect opportunity to get creative as a family to produce a prize winning scarecrow creation. Some fantastic prizes to be won. Bring along your scarecrow between 9.30 - 10 am for registration. Winners announced at midday. New category this year includes your on site creation - see how inventive you can be making a SCARECROW against the clock between 10 - 11.30 (with items supplied by the market). Judging begins at 11.30 am. There will be live music throughout the event to enjoy PLUS all the great selection of genuine locally grown fruit/veg/plants, award winning produce inc. preserves, cheeses, artisan baking, honey, hazelnuts.... and diverse range of handcrafted gifts - perfect time to start getting your Xmas shopping in early!! See www.facebook.com/lincolnmarket for full details.

Christchurch Arts Festival 2015
27 Aug - 20 Sept
Christchurch Arts Festival is a major feature on the South Island event calendar showcasing a programme of arts and entertainment by leading international and New Zealand performers and artists. The Festival experience in 2015 will span four weekends with a range of theatrical enticements that lead the city out of winter and into the lightness of spring. It's a Festival promising a burst of creative energy, vitality, amusement and adventure. Featuring an exciting programme of cabaret and magic, high quality theatre and dance, that sits alongside a diverse offering of classical through to contemporary music and a range of community events. Make the Festival part of your year and bring the central city alive through the arts in 2015! Official Website: Click here

Any Dad who visits Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools & Spa on Sunday with a child will get a free waterside pass. Or for something a bit further afield all Dads get half-price ski passes at Roundhill on Sunday!

The Imagination Station also has a Father's Day package for their Stop Motion Animation Movies workshop- buy 2 tickets for the special price of $20 and receive two cookies as well! In this course you will learn how to make your own LEGO stop-motion animated movie covering basic film-making principles, story boarding and LEGO specific techniques used in producing animations that stretch the imagination. If you already know this stuff - great! The class time is for you to make a film, or to continue work on one with an experienced tutor on hand to answer questions and help you polish your film!

What are your Father's Day plans for this weekend?

Kids Can Help- Father's Day Ideas

Here in New Zealand, we celebrate Father's Day on the first Sunday in September. That means that Father's Day falls on the 7th September this year. That is this Sunday...where did the time go?

I have been accumulating some ideas for gifts that my two boys can make for their Dad, and I thought I would share them with you. Malcolm- if you are reading this then look away!



1. First up, we always have a cooked breakfast on Sundays, so Father's Day will be a mega breakfast. I love this idea to make Dad pancakes using stencils and icing sugar. The boys are already whizzes in the kitchen, so at least I will have two helpers to make these.

2. Handmade gifts are great, but I find a lot of them aren't practical or just don't last. This toddler artwork t-shirt is cute but will also be used, which makes it a win in my book! Lucas and Adam will love drawing on t-shirts to do a great drawing for their Dad.

3. Every Dad deserves a special treat, and manly cupcakes with mustaches on top will do for dessert nicely. I have some chocolate mustache moulds already, so these should be a cinch to make. Once again, the boys will be able to help with most steps to these cupcakes, and Lucas already has the chocolate cupcake batter recipe memorised!

4. I think this book would be a great accompaniment to the t-shirt gift, as the boys love to read with Malcolm and we always tend to get a Father themed book for Father's Day.

5. Of course, we will need a card to go with the present, and this adorable monster hug card can be easily made with the help of the two boys. They have made similar hug cards in the past and loved them, so I am sure this card will be appreciated by all.

6. I can't forget my Dad and also my father-in-law, who sports a pretty awesome mustache. My two should enjoy picking out lots of candy to put in these lolly jars for their Granddads, and will probably end up getting some lollies for themselves too.

If you need some extra inspiration, be sure to check out my Gift Ideas board on Pinterest!

Made in NZ Father's Day Gift Guide

I love supporting local businesses, and New Zealand has some wonderful shops online that cater for all sorts of people. With Father's Day coming up on Sunday 1st September, I thought I would share some Kiwi made gift ideas for your Dad.

The Photo-Loving Dad

These sweet Me & Dad magnets are fantastic on the fridge with a photo- what a great surprise for Father's Day. I have had mine since 2011 and still get comments about them! You can also put them on filing cabinets if he wants to display photos in the office Available from tinch.

The Car-Proud Dad

We all know a guy who loves his car, and these car mats are proudly made in New Zealand to deal with our weather conditions. No more traipsing mud into the car! Select your design based on car make and model from Rubbertree.

The Book-Loving Dad

This is The House That Jack Built with a New Zealand twist. Gavin Bishop is a wonderful New Zealand author and any of his books are a welcome addition in our house. A great book to read to children- my husband is in charge of bedtime books and this would be a firm favourite.

Purchase from Gecko Press, a wonderful book supplier that has books from New Zealand and around the world.

The Grill King Dad

This heavy duty BBQ cover will protect your dad's most prized possession and is NZ made, waterproof and UV treated. Grab one at Not Socks.

The Chef Dad

How cute are these wooden spoons? You can even customise it to your Dad's favourite colour or tie it in with your kitchen décor. Great for those Dads who are in charge of Scrambled Egg Sundays. Purchase via Jamie Kay.

The Tech Dad

Most men I know own a smartphone, laptop, tablet or gaming console of some kind. A NZ based business, Wrappz allows you to customise these items. How great would it be for your Dad to have his favourite photo of his kids on his iPhone or Playstation? Wrappz cases provide robust protection and are printed using the latest techniques to provide a visually stunning scratch resistant finish. Have a play and come up with a design that Dad will love.

The Comfortable Clothing Dad

Comfort always starts with the bottom layer, and Thunderpants are a great NZ company making underwear that is designed to not ride up your bum! They even have a special on at the moment, so grab a great deal.

The Family Man Dad

Another favourite gift in our house, this framed list of house rules is a lovely reminder of family bonding. Perfect for any Dad I think! Check out the full range of options at smartiepants.

The Bed Hog Dad

Some men won't stay on their side of the bed, no matter how hard you try! It gets even worse when the littlies climb in as well, leaving you with hardly any room to sleep. Try to combat the problem with these pillows from Hazel Loves Design.

I hope that you have been inspired by some of these suggestions. Which gift suits your Dad the best?