Updated: June 2022
Father's Day is here! If you're still looking for that perfect Father's Day Gift that isn't a new tie or socks, find your inspiration here! Let's rummage through my online shopping history and share the crazy and unique gifts I've given! For me, most gifts are interchangeable - Father's Day, birthday, Christmas, Easter - so these ideas can work any time!
Looking for gift help, but want more personalized ideas? Check out our Ultimate Guide to Gift Giving for source ideas and how to make that gift extra special!
The Winners - Past and Active Gifts!
Here are some of the "winner" gift ideas we've given over the years. Some of these are still "active" gifts that haven't been given, so we'll see what family members read my post and spoil their surprises!
Gag Gifts
Original Source: Amazon, Squatty Potty Store
Guys just like bathroom jokes! And apparently it's something I like gifting! This helps lift your legs higher while you're on the toilet... and it's a handy stool for kiddos too! They also sell a bamboo version, which looks super nice!
Original Source: Charmin
Ordered this for my dad the Christmas after the big toilet paper shortage. You know, for preparedness. A useful AND funny gift!
Original Source: Amazon, Zulay
My father-in-law LOVES his Carnation Instant Breakfast. Every morning for breakfast, without fail. We love our chocolate milk too, but instead of a spoon to stir, we started using an electric frother. No chunks and perfectly stirred! It got so much use during his trip, we had to buy a new one, and got him one to take home!
Other Milk Frothers: Amazon
Original Source, Sheet Music: Petrucci Music Library
Original Source, Dryer Balls: Amazon
Our dryer doesn't just beep when a load is done; it plays a song! We caught my father-in-law humming the tune while he was visiting, and it was so catchy! We found an article online talking about appliances playing classical music, and decoded to make his Father's Day gift a puzzle. Sheet music to the tune, and a pack of dryer balls!
Other Dryer Balls: Amazon
Geeky Gifts
"The Wheel of Time" Coin Set
Original Source: Etsy, ShirePost Mint
They no longer sell this specific coin set, but this seller has other options based off other series - Lord of the Rings, Game of Thrones.
Other "The Wheel of Time" Gifts: Etsy
Original Source: Standard Box
When I'm out of creative gift ideas, this is a great go-to! I usually get the surprise bundle for Brandon, because then I don't have to worry too much about what's coming. It's a surprise for me too (and can be a great Santa gift). But there all specific themed boxes too - Firefly, Harry Potter, Marvel, Deadpool, Pixar... and more!
Other Themed Subscription Boxes: LootCrate
Original Source: Fiverr, Zical_17
Fiverr is a great place for custom design work! There are MANY other styles you can pick from, if you're wanting to do a family photo: Big Heads, Photo Collage, Line Art, Dragon Ball, Pokemon Trainer... and on and on! If you have an idea, find an artist to do it!s
Other Design Styles: Family Portraits
Original Source: Amazon, Nintendo
This massive and unexpectedly thick book hoses all of the art details from the Zelda games! Not much in terms of text, but my husband and son have taken hours looking at the different armor, villains, good guys, weapons, any aspect of the Zelda empire!
Other Video Game Books: Amazon
Electronics
Video Games
Original Source: Amazon
If there's a new video game launching my husband mentions, I'll go ahead and pre-order it so it's ready for whatever holiday is next. Or if he orders it, sometimes I'll steal it away and tell him he can't have it until the next holiday - this worked better when we didn't have a lot of extra money, though.
Other Video Games: XBox, Switch, PlayStation
Original Source: Amazon, Apple Store
Being in a design-field, paper and pencil for doodling are everywhere! So we got an Apple Pencil for Brandon's landscape architecture designs, so he can save them all in one spot!
Other Stylus Options: Amazon
Light Box for Sketching
Original Source: Amazon, LitEnergy
Continuing with the "art supplies," Brandon has been learning more about hand sketching in his new job and needed to get in some practice with pencil and paper! Instead of trying to squint and see the image behind, or flipping the paper back and forth a million times, he can use this light up tablet!
Other Light Box Options: Amazon
Original Source: Amazon, JUQITECH Store
Not a fan of the on-screen keyboard, we got Brandon this separate keyboard that magnetically attaches to the included case. So, when he wants to use the keyboard, he can! When he needs to carry fewer things, he can leave the keyboard at home.
Other Keyboard Options: Amazon
Apparel and Wearables
Original Source: Amazon, Stadium Athletics
At Brandon's work, they're allowed to wear polos with jeans on Friday. Instead of allowing him to wear just standard polo, we surprised him with one featuring his grad school - University of Florida! He's also got a Brigham Young University polo too, to represent undergrad.
Other School Polos: Amazon
Original Source: Jane
My son loves to match with Dad! And zipper ties are the biggest win for Dad and Mom!
More Matching Ties and Kid Apparel: Etsy
Original Source: Jane, The Threaded Pear
Another fun thing for Dad and Grandpa to wear to the office, but still look professional, is fun socks! Find their favorite video game, or super hero, or just a funky pattern!
Other Fun Socks: Amazon
Original Source: Jane, Cabanyco
Why let the ladies have all the fun with cool aprons? We found this Star Wars inspired apron for Brandon, but now Aedan has taken over! It's perfect for helping around the kitchen or anytime we want to protect clothes.
Other Mens Aprons: Amazon
Original Source: Amazon, Fruit of the Loom
Who doesn't like lounging around the house in soft pants? These are like wearing a sweatshirt, but thin enough that the heat doesn't get you!
Other Pajama Pants: Amazon
Games and Subscription Boxes
Original Source: Etsy, TailgatingPros
We live in Florida and LOVE to be outside! So we wanted to bring some of our favorite inside toys outside! The kids found it hilarious when it toppled down on top of them the first time too.
Other Outside Games: Etsy, Amazon
Original Source: Website
Our big Monday-night date is watching Bailey Sarian's "Murder Mystery and Makeup," after the kids are asleep. Instead of being told about a mystery to solve, you get to solve one yourself!
Other Subscription Boxes: Urban Tastebud
Original Source: Amazon, Rio Grande Games
Our college friends introduced us to this in-depth deck building game, Dominion. There are expansion decks to make the game more complex, or you can stick with the original! Each expansion has its own rules and additional cards to play. We have the Prosperity expansion, which adds more money-type challenges into play.
Other Board Games: Amazon
Original Source: Ebay, Goodwill Colorado Springs
My father-in-law loves learning skills for the grandkids, like magic tricks and making balloon animals! We haven't gifted this one yet, but I'm excited to see what comes from it!
Health and Fitness
Original Source: Amazon, Colorfey
We've gone through a few over-the-doorframe pullup bars in our 10 years of being married, but never been able to use them because the frames were too close to the ceiling! I grabbed this one for Brandon and it hangs in our bedroom doorway. No screws, it just wrenches open, and it's really secure! Whenever we walk by, we do a pullup or two, and it's been amazing!
Other Doorway Pullup Bars: Amazon
Original Source: Amazon, EAshuhe
When Brandon gets stressed, he gets knots in his shoulder that I'm not strong enough to get out. This massager has heat too, and he can pull it tighter with the arm straps to work those knots out. I've probably used it more than he has, for my lower back!
Other Neck Massagers: Amazon
Original Source: Amazon, AncestryDNA
I got this a few years back for my birthday, and Brandon's been feeling left out. Submit your DNA swab, and they analyze where your family came from! We liked the Ancestry version, because it also connects to our Ancestry family trees online. Brandon's family talks about how Swedish they are, but turns out he's only about 12%! It also shows you stories and potential paths your family took, to where they are now, as they migrated around the world. My family came from Europe, and are part of the Central Appalachia Settlers!
Other DNA Kits: Amazon
Original Source: Amazon, Bowflex
There was never space or money enough to hold the full gym Brandon wanted. But these weights have been amazing! They are adjustable, so you can easily change how heavy they are. Each one ranging from 5 to 52.5 pounds.
Other Home Weights: Amazon
Outdoors
Original Source: Amazon, Fretree
We love being outside, but there's never enough seating! We are also low on storage space, and the Florida sun melts a lot of things, so we tried out this inflatable lounger! We kept it inside for a few days and the kids loved watching TV in it, and since you just deflate and move it, it's an easy change to take it outside!
Other Inflatable Loungers: Amazon
Original Source: Amazon, Boncas Store
Throw out the matches, and the empty lighter, and get a rechargable lighter! Use electricity instead of fire to light your candles, birthday cakes, fires. I can never get the gas lighter sticks to work, and Brandon was in love with this!
More Rechargable Lighters: Amazon
Original Source: Amazon, Dirza
Brandon's bike is the nicest of all of ours, but we didn't have a safe place to store it! So now it's up, off the ground, but easily accessible. We used this version in our last house, and it made his bike a piece of art on the wall, instead or just something crowding the driveway.
Other Bike Hangers: Amazon
Original Source: Walmart, Hover-1
We live one mile from Brandon's work, and on some days, that's too much to walk or bike! So, Santa brought him an electric scooter, to make the commute a little easier! It also folds up, so he can take in into work, and it fits in the back of the car, if we happen to pick him up.
Other Electric Scooters: Amazon
Original Source: Walmart, Somerset Home
I got Brandon a hammock previously, but we never even took it out of the bag because there were never trees around! This year, we got him a nice cloth hammock with the frame included, and it's a proud member of our front room! The kids always fight over who gets to watch the movie from the hammock.
Warning! The stand is really heavy duty, and you will break your toe if you don't watch where you're walking!
Other Hammocks: Amazon
Original Source: Amazon, ShineTech Store
We've been in our new home for about a year and a half, and we finally have money for some fun projects! Brandon wants to create a fun porch atmosphere, so I thought it would be fun to get him some party lights! These flash in all sorts of colors, and are powered by solar, so we don't have to worry about electrical outlets!
Other Patio Lights: Amazon
Original Source: Amazon, Autocastle Store
Working out in the field in the early morning, even in Florida, Brandon always talked about how cold his feet were. He would even bring his slippers for the days he didn't have to get out of the truck. So, why not have some extra warmth?! The only bad thing, is they are hand wash only!
Other Battery Heated Socks: Amazon
Original Source: Amazon, Autocastle Store
Another perk of working out in the field is wet shoes! It was getting really bad with funky smells from not being able to dry them, and he's loved this dryer! It's great for kid shoes after those random Florida rainstorms too.
Other Shoe Dryers: Amazon
Remembering the Past
Childhood or Vintage Board Games
Original Source: Ebay, Source23
Find a game they used to play as a child, or maybe just an older version of something they love! We saw this game, a local Monopoly-style game, at a yard sale when we first moved to Orlando but didn't buy it. And then we were so bummed about it! So I found it on Ebay. We've also gotten each other the Pokemon Master Trainer Game and Hero Quest.
Other Vintage Board Games: Ebay, Etsy
Original Source: Amazon
One of Brandon's favorite childhood books is "Pickle-Chiffon Pie". We even made him a key lime pie for his birthday, and pretended it was pickle pie! When it was time for Christmas, Santa brought this book from the same author, to add to the collection.
Other Books: By Jolly Roger Bradfield
Original Source, Candy: Amazon, Generic
Original Source, Pot: Ebay, koos-71
My dad was always munching on Boston Baked Beans, and I stumbled across this little pot on Ebay! We got him some new candy to fill the jar with too, so he can have a little collection nearby to snack on.
Other Vintage Candy: Amazon
Other Boston Baked Bean Pots: Etsy, Ebay
Original Source: Jane, Key Lime Digital Designs
My grandparents sold their house, the house my dad grew up in, and everyone was heartbroken. It was a good decision, but we knew we'll never see it again. So, I hopped online and got a watercolor art print made of the house for my Dad! His sister called me a few months later and wanted her own copy!
Around the House
Original Source: Amazon, Wrap-It Storage Store
Being the one in charge of the garage and electronics, all the cords can get unwieldy. This velcro strap helps keep things organized by keeping it folded into the requested tube or figure-8, and has a loop for hanging!
Other Cord Organizers: Amazon
Original Source: Amazon, The Battery Organiser Store
Another way to keep the house ready for all of those little projects. This battery organizer attaches to the wall, keeping out of cabinets and off countertops, and has a battery tester so you can be sure they are all in working order.
Other Battery Organizers: Amazon
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