Pepper Design Blog

I think that guys might be the hardest to buy for in our family. Between dads and husbands and brothers, we all tend to stock up on much needed clothing (socks, flannels, belts) or activity-related gifts to give. Sometimes it’s fun to offer a surprise when they open that box though and so finding and hunting down unique items online can come in for the win. Here are a few things that caught my eye for guys…

Architectural puzzle art: topographical sets made from cement for creating landscapes and pieces of art (when not being arranged and rearranged again). I’d dig keeping this out on a table for the random shuffling about and I think the kids would like it too. Kev proposed this time of the year at the end of the Grand Canyon in Havasupai after hours of canyon backpacking. That could be a neat custom set to have made.

ManCan beer: a personal keg for on the go or to keep in the fridge :). A mini keg that really is a mini, tappable keg.

Midwest State of Mind tee: if I could find a t-shirt that about sums up Kevin, it would be his paternal roots in the Mid West (even though we’re West Coast born and bred).

A bloody mary gift basket: homemade or Etsy sourced (this one looks like da bomb, too). If you’re not into bloody mary’s there are so many cocktail gift kit ideas out there… the possibilities are endless (and thoughtful).

Mini beer pong set: this is just for fun. But I feel like it could be a winner.

Crafted Meats by by Haase, Klanten and Ehmann: a guide to slow food from the butcher’s perspective (and they note several young butcher’s who are changing the way things are). I think Kevin would devour this page by page with his love of thoughtful cooking, crafting, creating in the kitchen.

Money clip: to combat a crazy wallet that held everything, I gave one of these hand sewn leather money clips to Kevin and my brother last year and they both still use it to this day (which I think is kinda cool). The small Etsy shop that makes these seems awesome and I love that you can really only carry what you need.

JUMP cable: I use this as my everyday charging cable and ‘jump’ my iPhone battery when it loses power mid-day. It’s a pretty neat concept and would make a great gift.

Sonos Play:5: this was a big Christmas present for us last year and it has made such a fun change in the home. Dance music at dinner, a little country music during clean up, oldies while the kids put on ‘shows’. It connects to my phone for easy controlling and it FILLS a huge space. A splurge but a really well loved one.

Cards Against Humanity: an inappropriate game to make guests blush and laugh uncontrollably at the same time. Don’t mix in alcohol at your next adults-only dinner party… or it might get a little too fun.

Kimono watch: a unique, neat watch with a cool band for those guys that like a little variety (I’m working on getting Kevin’s 7-year-old watch fixed this Christmas, he’s of the tried and true type).

A USB adaptor that blends into your laptop: I need one of these!

Foam camping sleeping mat: our family loves to camp. It’s truly when our family is most ‘on’ out there in the wilderness with Kevin’s fine fire cooking skills and the kids love of exploring everything. But we ain’t young folk any more. A foam sleeping mattress would be a great encouragement to camp more this coming year. But to be honest, Kevin doesn’t need the foam, I like the foam. It’s a plus. :)

You probably learned a lot about Kevin with this post!

Also, if you’re still hanging, here are a few ideas for kids and for the ladies. Hope you are having a beautiful countdown to Christmas with your family!!

We are at a critical age where I feel as though we get to set the standard for Christmas. Christmas every year can be over the top and crazy and too much, or it can be thoughtful and a little less taken over with ‘stuff’. It’s hard enough to impart the meaning of the season when glossy-eyed kiddos accidentally come across a Target catalog (oh man, true story this year when Liv presented me with a pile of clippings as tall as her little body), but it’s even more challenging when it’s so easy to encourage that mentality by loving on your kiddos with LOTS of presents.

We are keeping it simple. This is Liv’s first year in really wanting to make a little list for Santa and her family, and we were pretty careful in selecting maybe 5-6 items to share with grandparents, aunts & uncles, and the big guy himself. Santa is bringing one cool gift; mom & dad are gifting something to wear, something to play with, and something artistic; grandparents each have their own special present (though I’ve been encouraging activities like dance lessons or one time projects like craft sets – those are the best). We are trying so hard to set a precedent for a handful of thoughtful, fun gifts and I’m really excited about it.

A couple of ideas I’ve come across for the girls, kids in our extended family, and those awesome Godchildren of ours…

Wooden walker push toy: M’s about that age where pushing something around the house is way more exciting. We had an awesome wagon push toy a while back that was used regularly as a walker/baby carriage/shopping cart/general toy mover but I think it went along with a renovation Good Will run by accident. Something not unsightly and not bulky (and not over $100) can be sorta difficult to find, I dig this guy.

‘Loving Family’ dolls: realistic dollhouse family members (for this guy from last year) that are non Barbie dolls but with ‘moving knees and elbows’ (which Liv shared with me as so important).

InRoad toys: picked up a set of these for each of our Godsons – these are awesome!

Adventures of Ta & Boddington: a friend of ours has written a series of books for kids (how cool is that), they teach morals and life lessons through the eyes of two cavemen building up their own little society. Liv loves them and chose one of the books for when it was my turn to read to her class very recently. That’s a big deal :).

Color the Natural World: a great book for kids who are very detail-oriented and who can spend hours lost in a coloring world (that’s our Liv right now).

Paper Monsters: a book ready to be dismantled into fun little creatures (so Taylor!).

Cash register: my girls have taken a keen liking to playing store, they both approach it in such different ways but both LOVE it. I’ve been searching Amazon for reviews for a toy that will last a little wear and tear.

Wooden castle building blocks: we are not in need of any major building toys/blocks/villages at the moment, but this Etsy shop and their fantastical land of castles, tree houses, dollhouses, mini towns is amazing. If we were starting fresh, this would be part of the mix and I have a feeling it would be loved.

Finger print art book and palette: this is another project book that Liv specifically picked out. It’s a really easy quiet activity.

Hand drawn star art: because so pretty, so simple for a kid’s room.

Teething necklace: I have been meaning to get a teething necklace for M (who is anxious to chew on anything and everything) and plan on having this one in her stocking this year. Baby needs something for Christmas…

I’d love to get the girls a star machine for their room – how cool would that be? Need to research it a bit and hoping Amazon Prime comes through for that one if we make that our big parent gift.

Also! three easy stocking stuffer ideas: a magnifying glass, butterfly wings and a super hero cape :).

I love to read online gift guides and I get a lot of great ideas from them every year. This week, my effort at gift guides for this Christmas!

Plaid blanket scarf: awesome for travel (plane or car ride blanket to the rescue), so comfy for out and about when you arrive.

Kissy ceramics: these need a spot in my home!

Travel kit: for the momma who loves a little comfort and relaxation (thinking of my momma who’s very good at immediately falling asleep in the car. always. for as long as I can remember.)

Dot studs: these little guys are at the top of my gift list. Subtle, everyday prettiness.

Beaded necklace: this necklace + a tee + a cardigan.

Zeel: guys, this is the Uber of massages (and a gift idea for the son who always forgets to get his mom something wonderful until last minute.) You can schedule a massage – or gift – by hopping onto their website, posting your request, and allowing Zeel to reach out to its base of masseuses who can schedule you in. Zeel offered to let me try out their service (an offer I cannot refuse) and it was the easiest thing ever. Amazing masseuses who can fit in extra clients on their time, and thus, a pretty reasonable price for an in-home massage.

Cozy beanie: a pretty marled grey beanie for cooler mornings and warmer ears. This in a few neutrals is the perfect go-to for me this winter.

5 Year Journal: one of my goal ideas for 2016 is journaling my girls (even more than I do here). This book offers a single line for each day over five years so that you can quickly compare what you were up to this time last year, year before and so on. How awesome is that. The one line a day is the winner for me.

Airplant art: a basic frame that is simple and pretty. I dig how easy airplanes are to care for, it’s amazing.

Gold belt: for layering over just about everything this holiday season.

Cabled headband: more winter head accessory goodness. This winter, cable everything :).

Thanks for letting me share! More gift guides from years past right over here.