Some Mother's Day and Father's Day gift ideas

When it comes to smaller holidays, I really like letting the theme inspire the gifts; for example, I love a Valentine’s Day present that also happens to be pink, red, or lavender. For Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, I’m all about pretty, springy things that either nod to or inspire time spent in a backyard or garden. (And yes, I’m putting moms and dads into a single list, because I’ve personally always found the way that gifts for the two are gendered to be extremely alienating! Some moms like to grill and some dads like flowers!!!) 

So if you’re hunting for something to give each of your parents (or the parent of your kids, or honestly whoever) for Mother’s Day/Father’s Day, here are some ideas that I hope will spark something!

Nocs zoom tube

I’ve been gifted several pairs of Nocs by the brand over the years and wholeheartedly recommend them; they are very nice starter binoculars that don’t feel like heavy-duty “gear.” I’m a fan of the singular zoom tube ($75), which can easily be tucked in a jacket pocket on a morning walk for impromptu birding.

Tree Finder and Flower Finder

I love these classic paperback books, which were first published in 1955. Both are currently $5.53 from Bookshop: Tree Finder and Flower Finder. (I also think they’d pair so nicely with the Nocs zoom tube!) 

Fellow travel mug

After drinking coffee out of a standard mug for my entire adult life, I’ve seen the light: An insulated vessel keeps coffee so much hotter (especially if you’re a slow sipper, like I am) and has improved my quality of life considerably! When people stay with us, they always comment on how nice these Fellow mugs are, and we’ve gifted them to a few people (including Kiyana’s mom). Also, the Fellow’s splash guard really works! It comes in several different colors; get one from Fellow or Amazon for $35.

Devotions by Mary Oliver

Mary Oliver just writes so beautifully about nature, and reading this anthology while sitting in a park or on the beach is pretty sublime. Get the hardcover for $29 from Bookshop. 

Toyo steel toolbox

I actually have two of these—a smaller one ($44 at the Container Store or $35 from Amazon) that I use for actual tools, and the bigger cantilevered one ($135 at the Container Store or $129 from Amazon), which Kiyana gave me for Valentine’s Day to use as a sewing box. I love the bigger one—it’s really practical, and the creamy white is quite striking. (Note: If you are willing to do some Googling, you can find additional color options across retailers!) 

Cadence toiletry kit

I own and love these customizable magnetic toiletry containers, which are ostensibly for travel but are also great for other forms of storage. (For example, when I was juggling a bunch of different meds, I used mine to mete out doses and keep track of what I’d already taken.) You can choose any combination of colors, adjust the sizes, and have labels made or keep them neutral. The bottles are leakproof, easy to clean after a trip, and just genuinely very convenient. A seven-piece set of 1.32-ounce containers is $168 from Cadence.

Meyer lemon phone wristlet

Kiyana gave me one of these cases along with two different beaded cords for Christmas last year and they bring me so much joy; I use them whenever we’re going out to do something that feels a little fancy. There are a bunch of different styles, but I’m partial to the fruits. Get the strawberry cord + case for $75 or the Meyer lemon cord + case for $110 from Ossa. 

Wingspan board game

I’ve been extolling the pleasures of this game for years and actually taught Tom and Danny to play when we saw them earlier this month. (They loved it and bought it for themselves immediately.) It’s so mellow—it has beautiful art, and is just a treat to play. Get it from Stonemaier Games for $59. (Note: I’ve heard of people accidentally buying counterfeit versions on Amazon, so I’d recommend buying directly from Stonemaier or at a local game store.) 

Crepe paper flowers

Flowers are a classic Mother’s Day gift, and I love a version that will last for years. I have tulips (in the living room) and peonies in the bedroom, and both bouquets are really beautiful! (The peonies actually look real at a glance.) A set of three tulips is $76 from floresparasiempre on Etsy, and the shop offers a bunch of other flower options as well. 

Popsmith popcorn maker

I never really cared about stovetop popcorn—I’ve always been fine with a bag of Orville Redenbacher—until I was sent a Popsmith to try out few years ago. The popcorn is delicious (I recommend getting the popping kits—they are worth it), and the process of making it feels like an event (in a good way!). The starter bundle is $213 from Popsmith or $249 from Amazon. (Note: It comes in three colors; I have the cream one and I think it’s really pretty.)

Stanley water bottle

I’ve already made my feelings on this water bottle known! Get it from Amazon or Stanley for $35.

Moccamaster 53921 KBGV Select 10-Cup Coffee Maker

If you’re willing/able to really splurge, this coffee maker is pretty life-changing; it simply makes the best (and fastest!) cup of drip coffee I’ve ever had. It’s also really aesthetically pleasing and available in several colors. I actually bought my mom one on Black Friday as a Christmas last year because she kept talking about how good our coffee was when she visited. Ranges from $319–$380 from Amazon, Williams-Sonoma, and Moccamaster.

That’s all I’ve got, but let me know what you’re gifting this year! 🌷