However, keep in mind, fatherly advice is different from motherly advice.  While mothers dish the advice directly and constantly, fathers stick little golden nuggets of advice under the surface.  Think about it, dudes never have been the ones to express their feelings and yack people’s ears off.  They are simple beings.  And my Dad is the simplest human being I know. That’s why I wanted to share five lessons I’ve learned from him.

1. Collecting coupons and saving your money is key to an stress-free life.

If there is anyone who is money savvy — it’s my father.  He’s taught me so many valuable lessons about spending. He doesn’t understand those weird purchases I make and instead tries to convince me to collect coupons and stash money away in envelopes for loans and paying off my car payments.  I’m smart with money because of my Dad.  I second guess buying that cuticle cream I’ll never need because of my Dad. I don’t live in a box because of my Dad.

2. A clean car makes for a clear mind.

I don’t know about other dads, but mine takes a lot of pride in the cars he drives. He always preaches to me; “Brittany, I don’t hire anyone with a messy car.  You can tell the type of person you are by how messy the inside of your car is.” And now that I think about it, that’s totally true.  When the inside of my car looks like a twister went through it, I feel disorganized and unprofessional. But when it’s cleaner than an operation table, I feel . . . kind of fabulous.

3. You’re never going to find someone as good as me.

Ok, this sounds bad at first. Because I know I’m going to find someone as great as my dad, and he knows it too.  But he always tells me this with a little laugh.  He is a fabulous and kind-hearted person.  He wants me to raise the bar and find someone who really cares about me as much as he does.  And I shouldn’t settle for anything less than that.

4. The grass is greener where you water it.

I think it’s a guy thing, but my Dad takes pride in a well-kept lawn. He’ll spend hours on end perfecting which portions of the grass the sprinklers hit and which direction he pushes the lawn mower. What have I learned from this? It shows when I take care of things.  If I don’t work my butt off, tell people how I feel, and water the grass where it’s getting a little brown — things aren’t going to turn out as pretty. Literally and figuratively. He has taught me that I really have to put a strong effort into anything I really want in life.

5. You have a lot of good stuff.

Lastly, my Dad has taught me to be grateful. It’s really an easy feat. Take advantage of everything I have in life – even if I’ve earned it. He’s taught me to continue to work hard for what I truly deserve, respect what I make happen, and keep working hard to make it better.

Happy Father’s Day to all the great Dads out there!  Go ahead, what sweet things has your Dad taught you?

Do you have a picture of your Dad chugging a Natty Ice and wearing a lax pinnie? Wearing a tank top and aviators?  Or better yet, do you have a photo of your pops indulging in Edward Crown Royal Hands?  If you answered yes to all of these questions, or if your Daddy is just plain bro, it’s time to take his bro-ness public.

Why, you ask?  Our frenemies over at Brobible.com are putting down their lacrosse sticks and Jager Bombs to publish “My Dad is Bro,” a bro-blication that will go on sale nationwide in May, 2011.

In order to make that happen, the bros are looking for picture documentation of bro-daddies everywhere. Yes, you supply a pic and your dad could go down in bro infamy! In case that’s not intriguing enough, if your papa is printed in the book, the editors of BroBible will send you a free copy for Father’s Day!  I don’t know about you, but that sounds like a pretty amazing (and free!) gift to fork over to your father instead of a car wash and Pine Forest car air fresheners.

So gather up that collection of photos where your bro-tastic Dad is doing a keg stand, smoking cigars, golfing with his bro buddies, and representing the brommunity to his utmost bro-bilities and send ‘em on over.  Then, look out for the “My Dad is Bro” book this spring!

Every year, right around Father’s Day I always scramble around trying to find a unique, personalized, yet cheap gift idea to give to my pops. I window shop, Google, ask friends – everything! Yet year after year I come across the same old lame gift suggestions. I’d name a few, but I’m afraid some of you reading this may have already succumbed to these terrible, banal ideas… and I wouldn’t want to offend. Nevertheless, I am here to help!

Unlike the rest of the world, apparently, we here at CollegeCandy realize there are many more types of dads than just the golf-loving dad or techie dad that are often the only ones represented in the usual generic gift guides. And how do we know that? Because we see them on TV every week. If you’re looking for the best gift money can buy for the best dad out there…but have no idea what to get him because you spend more time with TV dads than you do with him, perhaps our handy little guide can help you.

Just pick the TV dad most like your real life dad and – bing, bang, boom – you’ve got yourself the perfect Father’s Day gift.

If your dad is:

A total geek, like Modern Family‘s Phil Dunphy:

-Victorinox SwissMemory 128 MB USB Storage Device
Although this thing looks like your typical Swiss army knife blade it also functions as a USB. So your dad can remain his geeky self while looking just a bit cooler. And he can cut things.

-PacSafe’s Stashsafe Hip Pack
This anti-theft hip pack (AKA fanny pack that dads love so much) has a slash-proof and lockable belt as well as lockable zippers to protect against everyday pickpockets. Make sure to include instructions in the card to swing the pack around back to take down the geeky factor.

A typical, hard-working, normal dad (with a taste for ugly sweaters), like The Cosby Show‘s Cliff Huxtable:

-Flo TV Personal Television
Just when you thought your dad couldn’t watch any more TV, this hand-held device allows him to watch live sports, breaking news and more virtually anywhere. Including his mother-in-law’s. Or your graduation.

-SkipDR Motorized Automax Disc Repair System
Now you can bring your dad’s favorite beat-up DVDs (The Chris Rock HBO special, anyone?) and CDs (how he must miss that Doobie Brothers boxset) back to life through this motorized repair process that smoothes discs’ surface scratches.

A big grump who needs some cheering up, like Married With Children‘s Al Bundy:

-Comedy club tickets
Laughstub.com has a wide variety of comedy acts in a wide variety of locations that’s sure to finally get a laugh out of him.

-HoMedics Shiatsu Massage Cushion
I learned early on in life that a massage is often a key to someone’s well, at least, temporary happiness. You can place this heated cushion, with its state-of-the-art moving massage mechanism, right over a chair or couch and also fold it up for easy storage and portability. That will make him smile. And give you a $20 next time you head out for the night…

Married to another dad… or totally obsessed with you, your future and your success, like Rachel Berry’s dads on Glee:

-Ole Henriksen Men’s Kit
This men’s line is said to be a celebrity favorite and tailored to the modern man’s skin care needs. And what dad doesn’t want soft, glowing skin?

-Digital photo frame
If your pops loves you as much as Rachel’s love her, he’s constantly thinking about you and your accomplishments. And you know you’ve got a ton – and more every day – so help him show you off with a digital photo frame. You can load it with pictures from your greatest moments – and add more as they happen – for him to show off to anyone who’s willing to listen.

All about relaxing with a cold one, a la The Simpsons’ Homer Simpson:

-Credit Card bottle opener
This bottle opener easily fits into any wallet so your dad can keep it with him everywhere he goes.

-Design a custom koozie
This site allows you to choose from a slip on, foam, or collapsible koozie, modify the color and even add a custom text or graphic. You could even slap a pic of Homer on there!

Athletic and always getting physical, like Friday Night Light’s Eric Taylor:

-Wii Fit Plus with Balance Board
This product makes it easier for users to maintain a daily workout routine by allowing them to exercise from home. Special features include being able to input the amount of time you want to spend working out or select an area for personal improvement (like that beer belly he’s been working on for 20+ years….).

-Adidas miCoach Pacer
This pacer helps him stay within four heart rate zones to create varied, personalized workouts so your dad get the most out of each run.

A fun loving kid at heart, like Desperate Housewives‘ Tom Scavo:

-Tickets to an amusement park
Give your pops a day off from being an adult and treat him for a special day for 2 at your local amusement park. Whether it’s Six Flags, Cedar Point, Knotts Berry Farm or Universal Studios, he’ll love getting a day to act like a kid…with his favorite kid.
-Gag gift box
On the outside, this gift box displays a ridiculous fake product that’s meant to baffle its recipient and give them a good laugh (once they figure it out).

The glue that keeps the family together, like Arrested Development‘s Michael Bluth:

-Tickets to a show for the whole family
Choose from fairs, festivals and more at Ticketmaster.com. He’ll love having everyone together.

- A professional family photo
So you won’t be able to get the actual picture in time, but you could get everyone together to chip in for a professional photographer to snap you all for one, gorgeous print. Then your dad can hang that wherever he pleases and take pride in the family he’s worked so hard for.

A technology junkie, like The Jetsons’ George Jetson:

-Logitech Harmony One Universal Remote with Color Touch Screen
You can finally get rid of all those remotes sitting on his coffee table (that always confuse your mom) by simplifying the control of all his home entertainment devices into this one simple, futuristic looking rechargeable remote. Plus, it will make your pops feel super cool when he can show it off to his friends.
Iomega iConnect Wireless Data Station
This device allows easy file sharing, data backup and print serving. What’s best of all is you can securely connect to everything stored on the hard drives that you decide to hook up to this from anywhere in the world!

An adventurer who’s always on the move (and may or may not be a super secret agent), like 24‘s Jack Bauer:

-CamelBak Hands-free Hydration Systems
There are 40 different models of this hydration system to choose from that allow athletes to remain active while simultaneously being able to easily drink water.

-Waterproof gadget cases
Whether he’s scuba diving, kayaking, mountain biking, or snowboarding, these cases protect against water, sand, snow, and dirt.

A former-musician-turned-lovable-house-husband, like Gossip Girl‘s Rufus Humphrey:

-Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones
With these, your dad can finally enjoy the clear, lifelike sound of his music and movies without all the noisy distractions around the house.

-Cuisinart Griddler Panini and Sandwich Press
This nearly $45 mini-grill accommodates any size sandwich and comes with helpful “power-on” and “ready-to-cook” indicator lights, instructions, recipes, and a drip spout that makes it easy to drain grease away from food to provide healthier, simpler cooking.

Has multiple wives, like Big Love‘s Bill Henrickson:

Don’t worry about a gift, girl. One of your many half-siblings will take care of it.

Ah, summer. There’s something about this time of year that brings back memories of the beach, county fairs, baseball, and, of course, family vacations.  Although at times, my family drove me crazy on those trips and I’d much rather have been anywhere else than with them, there are still tons of great memories of all those long drives to see relatives, camping trips, and visits to amusement parks that filled my summer vacations growing up.

So in honor of both summer (which officially starts next Monday) and Father’s Day this Sunday, I give you: Dads on Vacation.

Dads on Vacation is a hilarious Tumblr blog that features (you guessed it) photos of readers’ dads on vacation.  The concept is just as brilliant as it is simple, and you won’t be able to help smiling when you get a look at all the pictures.  There’s plenty of examples of classic “Dad style” that makes me nostalgic for my own dad’s vacation outfits: the high white socks with either sneakers or sandals, short shorts, the wide-brimmed straw hat, canteen strapped around the waist for hikes, and the inevitable Hawaiian-print shirt for more “dressy” occasions.

Do yourself a favor and check out Dads on Vacation–not only will it make you smile, but it’s also a great way to celebrate both Father’s Day and Summer!

Shopping for a man who constantly tells you to stop shopping is a really tough job.  Father’s Day is right around the corner and I can’t help but feel the tie/socks/homemade tchotchke trifecta is a little overplayed, but what do you get for the man who thinks Teva sandals and pleated khakis are socially acceptable?

Well, I’ve got a few ideas of what he’ll love, as well as a few hints at what to stay away from.

Good Idea: A gift to sponsor a child from Africa
Bad Idea: A positive pregnancy test to sponsor your lovechild.
He’ll feel culturally aware and very on-trend now that Sandra Bullock has joined the club of adoptive parents helping kids in need.  Just make sure it’s not your kid that’s needing the charity.

Good Idea: A subscription to a magazine about on one of his hobbies
Bad Idea: A year’s worth of Playboy.
Cameras, cars, home restoration, and wildlife?  All acceptable.  Bush and boobs?  Not so much.

Good Idea: A new money clip
Bad Idea: A new money clip because you stole his old one last weekend and lost it (and all the money inside) at the bar.
Make it monogrammed, not covered in beer muck and dirt.

Good Idea: A bunch of DVDs he’s been wanting
Bad Idea: The box of old VHS tapes you found in the basement labeled Taxes.
Shutter Island, Invictus, and 2012 have all come out recently and are guaranteed to be guy-friendly.  Give Dad a bonus gift and shove those “Taxes” further back into the closet so Mom doesn’t flip out like it’s 1983 all over again.

Good Idea: Tickets to the Bon Jovi tour
Bad Idea: Tickets to the Glee tour.
Help Dad reminisce on the days when he had big hair, ripped jeans, and a motorcycle babe calendar hanging on the garage wall.  Remember, the gift is for him, not you.

If all else fails, go with the sure bet: buy him a steak and offer to mow the lawn.  Look who’s the favorite daughter now?

Even Lilo’s assistant can’t handle her.

The women of the World Cup.

7 ways to improve your diet without starving yourself.

Twilight fans get one more movie.

‘Bourne’ without Matt Damon? Is that possible?

Need a gift for dad? Enter to win a Nautica gift card!

I don’t know about you guys, but I feel like the longer our relationship goes on, the greater the pressure there is to give him a seriously kick ass gift. Don’t get me wrong, I know it’s “the thought that counts” and yes, David would be equally happy with an iPod or a 3 day cruise (speaking from experience…unless he was just faking his excitement to make me feel better). I just love the process of finding the perfect gift for my perfect boyfriend. (I feel the same way about gift giving in general. It takes me a solid 2 months to Christmas shop.) And after 2 and a half years, I’ve built a pretty impressive record for gift giving.

Of course there are the times when I get it totally wrong (I thought getting him a sex toy for graduation was both hilarious and practical- he did not agree), and those are the gifts that haunt my memory while I try to find his 23^rd birthday present.

It can be hard shopping for your boyfriend. You know him so well, you should be able to spot from a mile away the thing or experience he’d love most. But, unfortunately it’s not always that easy. So whether you’ve got a boyfriend with a summer birthday, your anniversary is coming up, or you just want to surprise him with a little something, I’ve compiled a go-to boyfriend gift guide. Happy shopping!

Hobby Gifts

Does your man have a passion or pastime that he absolutely loves? What about getting him an upscale accessory? David is chess obsessed, so I’ve been trolling the internets to find a nice chess set for him. Does your boyfriend love poker? Check out this Texas Hold ‘Em chip set with a table (and it’s only $99!) For bonus points, tell him to invite the boys over for a poker night, complete with man-food and his favorite beer provided by you.

Dating an athlete?

Well, even if you’re not, chances are the guy you’re dating loves a certain sport (or all of them). If he’s baseball obsessed check out this cool score ticker. David’s been obsessed with it since he saw it at the mall, so it’s definitely on my list of possibilities for him. If your man is more the kind of guy who likes to get in on the action, think about signing him up for a sports league. Depending on where you live and what sport you register him for, prices range from around $50- $75 for seasons that last for a few months. A lot of leagues have happy hour specials and post-game sponsor bars with drink specials included in the registration fee.

Road Trip!

Take advantage of summer time, gas up your tank and pack him a weekend bag without him noticing. Tell him you guys have to go run errands, and hit the open road. Blind folds are optional (and awesome) and so is telling him where you’re headed. Check out what deals are around where you’re living. Hit an amusement park for the weekend (The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is calling my name), see if you can rent a beachfront condo (or better yet, ask a friend or relative if you can stay there for two nights), check out last minute hotel deals near the beach. Even if you stay in or near your hometown, staying in a sweet hotel will make it feel like a vacay. And the weather is gorgeous (but the mosquitoes haven’t noticed yet) so why not go camping for the weekend? Use your imagination and get excited to totally sweep your boyfriend off his feet.

If all else fails…turn to video games.

No matter how old he’s turning, he probably still loves video games. Here are the hottest video games out right now, ranked by sales. Just make sure you get a game that’s compatible with his system, and when in doubt, call his best friend to ask what they’ve been playing lately.

What’s the next gift you’re thinking of giving your boyfriend? Do you have a tried and true method for picking the perfect present? If so, let’s hear it!

They love their daughters, no matter what. Basically, I’ve put my dad through hell and back, and I’m well-deserved to be blamed for his heart problems. My dad is the father of two girls, both in college. Despite all we’ve put him through – from going through private education, “borrowing” the credit card, bringing home boys with less than ideal traits, throwing a two hundred person rager when left alone with the house, accidentally drunk dialing him, and subjecting him to The Hills and Gossip Girl every Monday night – he still totally loves me. And it takes a lot.

Dads protect their little girls from everything. Though he never pulled out his shotgun and cleaned it in front of any of my potential suitors, my dad has done whatever he could to protect me from a broken heart. And broken bones. And scary boogey men. He’s kept me safe and I love him for it.

When I was younger, my family moved around a lot. I mean, A LOT. I moved to a new state about every two years, and even though I adapted fairly quickly to my new schools, I would occasionally get very anxious in the evening about my upcoming day at school and the potential monsters under my bed and in my closet. After thoroughly scoping out my room for any bad guys, my dad would promise me every night, “Don’t worry about tomorrow, because today is the day you worried about yesterday.” Kind of corny, but it help me feel safe and reassured and it’s a phrase that still protects me to this day.

Dads guide their kids through life. Without dad, I’d never learn how to throw a baseball, balance a checkbook (still working on that one), appreciate a good classic comedy, do laundry, or make the best French toast in the universe. Seriously, you should try it. So. Good.

My dad is the coolest. He knows the best shows on television, gets me tickets to all my favorite sporting events, and he still manages to take me and my friends and family on the bombest vacations every spring break and summer. Helloooo, Miami! Alright, so maybe his “cool factor” doesn’t exactly meet up with everyone’s standards, but I think it’s amazing that he hasn’t missed a single episode of David Letterman in, like, 100 years, and can quote every Mel Brooks’ movie. I’m pretty sure I was the only little girl in grade school who was unknowingly repeating lines from “Blazing Saddles” and I think that’s pretty cool.

No matter what I do, dad can’t stay mad at me. He’s always by my side, cheering me on and challenging my every decision. Oh, and when I ask for $10, he’s always giving it to me.

I love you daddy; here’s to the most deserved holiday of the year! Now go shower your dads in ties and pens, take them to brunch, and let them golf all damn day.

Melanie currently interning in NYC, taking full advantage of all margarita specials and those blonde summer boys. Stalk her on Twitter: @tinkermellie

Happy (almost) Father’s Day! We know you guys aren’t dads (and if there are any dads reading this, well, that’s just sorta icky), but you are most likely celebrating one. Just because you’re showering your dad with gifts of bacon and neckties, it doesn’t mean you can’t have a little somethin’ somethin’ for yourself.

So we’re bringing you the hottest celebrity dads around. Because while it may be gross to think of your dad as a hottie (OMG…can’t….get…that…image….out…of….my….head….), it’s totally fine to celebrate the hotness that is the Celebrity DILF.

What we wouldn’t give to have these guys bounce us on their knee for a few. Come to mama!
[Click images to see them in all their daddy glory!]

And what’s the best (and cheapest) way to do that? Why, to tell them why you love them, of course! Yes, our dads may make really bad jokes when our friends are around or constantly regale us with their stories from Woodstock, but that’s what makes them so damn loveable, right?

This week the CollegeCandy writers shared why they love their dads, despite the ridiculous/gross/embarrassing things that they do.

Abby – Syracuse University: My dad still thinks that Hungry Man frozen dinners are a nutritious and delicious dinner option…

Sara C- Fordham: My dad insists on watching golf on television (ew) with the volume really loud, but he always invariably falls asleep 10 minutes after sitting down. Of course, as soon as I try to turn the channel he snaps out of la-la land and goes, “Hey! I was watching that!” Oh, Dad.

Kathryn – University of Wisconsin-Madison – Even though my dad constantly nags me about finding a “real person” job and appreciating the value of money (as if I don’t understand the concept of paying bills), I still totes magotes love him!

Kari – Florida State: My dad is incredibly hairy with an aversion to pants.

Lauren – University of Michigan: My dad passed on his finest genes to me: really bushy eyebrows and horribly ugly feet. Somehow, despite my weekly waxes and inability to wear sandals, I still heart him.

Alex – Lakehead: My dad sings top 40 music and completely changes the lyrics, but I still love him.

Brithny – Duke : My dad dyes his hair and gels it into a mini-spike in an attempt to look “young and hip” – but he doesn’t know he’ll always be the coolest dad in my book.

Thu – USC: He constantly speaks (read: yells at an unnecessary level) as though we are a block away.

Liza M – Minnesota: My dad is totally over-protective and thinks that I’m still 5 years old sometimes…

Amanda – Reed: Even though my dad collects avant-garde Russian posters and buys toy trains on eBay, I still love him.

Carly – Grinnell: He still doesn’t believe that I know how to drive.

Jill – University of Wisconsin: I love my dad even though he stands over the computer for far too long looking at what I’m doing. I know its just because hes fascinated by the technology,  but I don’t need him to see me stalking my crush on Facebook and then ask me 5 million questions.

Charlsie – Hollins: Whenever I call my dad and tell him I need something he says, “Listen, I checked on the internet and Google told me no one ever died from it, so go ahead.” I don’t know where he picked this up or why he says it every single time, but it always brightens my day and puts a smile on my face!

Ricki- University of Michigan: Even though my dad comments about my sex life and my experience, he’s still one of my best friends.

Cristina – Michigan State: Even though my dad pokes my ticklish sides every time he’s behind me and I don’t know it, I’m still of a fan of his work (creating me, obv.).

K – GWU: He bumps country music mad loud.

Alana – Boston University: My dad threatens the guys I date with a shotgun and a shovel.

Maddie – Tufts: Even though my dad wears those really embarrasing 1920′s style cabbie hats when we go out to dinner, I still totally love him.