A Gift Guide for Parents

Posted December 12, 2016 by shooting in Uncategorized / 25 Comments

I tweeted about wanting to do a couple more gift guides for those of you are still looking for things to buy, and I got a suggestion for a Parents Gift Guide. I know how difficult it can be shopping for one’s parents, so I thought I’d go with this idea and share some ideas I’ve found online that might be suitable for your mom, dad, stepmom, stepdad, etc. Let me know what you think in the comments! Any other last minute guides you’d like to see? There are affiliate links in this post – which means if you buy something, I’ll get a small percent back. Thanks in advance!

Creative Gifts

Do either of your parents like to color? I know my brother and sister in law both do! If so, these Prismacolor Premiere Colored Pencils look like an amazing addition to any coloring book. You can get them here for $27.99 – this is the 48-count pack.

Bullet Journals and planners are really popular these days. Are one of your parents a fan, or do you think they’d enjoy getting into it? How about getting these Micro-Line Ultra-Fine Point Ink Pens (16 set). I’d love these for my own planner! You can get this set for $19.99!

Did your parents have a Polaroid camera when they were younger? How about getting them a Fujifilm INSTAX Mini 8 Instant Camera for $59.95. It’s a bit more pricey, but it could be a gift for both parents to use or you could go in with a sibling and split the cost! This is the blue camera, but you can get the white camera, the pink camera, or the black camera.

You Can’t Go Wrong with a Calendar

I know my mom gets a calendar for the house every year, and I used to do a desk calendar for her as a Christmas gift. There is also the page a day calendars, which I personally love. So many ideas…so here are some I think parents might enjoy…

Do your parents love Disney? You can get this Thomas Kinkade Disney Dreams 2017 Wall Calendar for $10.19. Can I have this? I love it!

My dad loves the history channel so I could see him really loving this History Channel Page a Day Calendar. You get 365 Remarkable People, Extraordinary Events, and Fascinating Facts for only $10.42!

Some other calendar options:

The Original Sudoku Page-A-Day Calendar – $10.39 Buy HERE

365 Bible Verses Page a Day Calendar – $11.43 Buy HERE

A Happier 2017 Page a Day Calendar – $10.39 Buy HERE 

Underwater Puppies Wall Calendar- $7.88 Buy HERE 

Books for Non-Readers


Not everyone likes to read. I know, it’s shocking, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still get them a book! This is where things like coffee table books, cookbooks, etc. come in! Here are some of my suggestions for parents!

Are either of your parents big Gilmore Girls fans? Do they also enjoy cookbooks? Then they should definitely get a copy of Eat Like a Gilmore: The Unofficial Cookbook for Fans of Gilmore Girls for $15.89!

I really love random facts, and so does my dad. I think this is something he’d really enjoy: Now I Know – The Revealing Stories Behind the World’s Most Interesting Facts for $9.99

Humans of New York is great for your parent that loves photography, or maybe your mom who loves to people watch and imagine people’s stories! You can get this book for $17.99

Are any of your parents elementary school teachers, or daycare workers? I feel like they might have a lot of Dr. Seuss in their life and could appreciate The Secret Art of Dr. Seuss, which is $24.94

Some other book ideas:

The Dogist: Photographic Encounters with 1,000 Dogs – $16.91 Buy HERE 

Underwater Puppies – $14.70 Buy HERE 

The Wes Anderson Collection- $23.99 Buy HERE 

Magazine Subscriptions

Personally, I subscribe to a lot of magazines and my mom reads almost all of the ones I get, so I know that a magazine subscription would make a great gift. Plus, if you subscribe around the holidays, you can usually find really good deals!

Real Simple Magazine for $11.94

Food Network Magazine for $12.00

Reader’s Digest for $10.00


Popular Science for $10.00

Martha Stewart Living for $14.99

The Family Handyman for $12.00

Entertainment Weekly for $30.00

Outdoor Life for $8.00

Feel Good, Look Good Products

This Burt’s Bees Essential Everyday Beauty Gift Set is only $8.49! You get a lot of great products to try – I personally love the chap stick – for a reasonable price! Plus, it’s all together and makes a great gift!



Lovely by Sarah Jessica Parker is one of my mom’s favorite perfume scents, so this might be a good choice for your own mother! You can get a 3.4 ounce spray bottle for $20.99! Not bad for perfume!

I love Philosophy products so I thought I’d share a few holiday themed ones that I think most mothers would really enjoy!

Magical Mint Hot Cocoa Set (photo above) – $22.50 Buy HERE 

The Holiday Handbook Set – $18.50 Buy HERE 

Snow Angel 4-Piece Set – $29.95 Buy HERE 

Peppermint Stick Duo – $19.85 Buy HERE 

Who couldn’t use a nice, cozy blanket for the winter? Well, if you live in a warm area, then no…but MOST of us could use this and it’s perfect for parents! Try the J & M Home Fashions Holiday Reindeer Sherpa Fleece Throw, 50-Inch by 60-Inch for $29.99. Add some hot cocoa and/or popcorn and it’s nice Night-In Gift!

Both of my parents use their cell phones a lot, so how about getting your own parents gloves with touchscreen technology so they can use their phones without pulling off their gloves? I’ll share some ideas below:

Timberland Men’s Magic Glove with Touchscreen Technology, Black, One Size (photo above) – $7.98 Buy HERE 

Women’s Winter Warmest Wool Knit Gloves Mitten Texting Touchscreen Lined (One Size, Black)- $14.99- Buy HERE 

Tomily Womens Touch Screen Phone Fleece Windproof Gloves – $9.99 – Buy HERE 

Isotoner Men’s Smartoutch Tech Stretch Gloves, Black, Medium – $14.37 – Buy HERE 

Release Your Inner Child

Take your parents back to their childhood days and get them something fun/cute/child-ish to enjoy!

You know I have to start with coloring books because there are a ton of adult ones out now! Here are some that I personally love!

Secret Garden coloring book – $9.57 – Buy HERE

Doctor Who coloring book – $10.15 Buy HERE 

HBO’s Game of Thrones Coloring Book – $10.42 Buy HERE 

The Dr. Seuss Coloring Book – $11.18 Buy HERE 

Colorful Blessings: Cards to Color and Share – $4.45 Buy HERE 

For the parents who love game night and have a bit of a dirty sense of humor. Cards Against Humanity is $25.00!

Here are some other game ideas that your parents might enjoy-

Codenames – $13.99 Buy HERE

What’s Yours Like? – $16.25 Buy HERE 

Punderdome: A Card Game for Pun Lovers – $18.00 – Buy HERE 

Logo Party Game – $16.23 Buy HERE 

Do your parents love any classic TV shows? I know almost everyone in my immediate family does, and I Love Lucy is a big one. You can get The Complete Series for only $44.99 right now! Just want the first season for the moment? That’s available for $9.79!

Some other classic TV shows-

Happy Days: Complete First Season – $9.99 Buy HERE

Three’s Company: Season One – $5.09 Buy HERE 

M*A*S*H Season One – $9.99 Buy HERE 

Laverne and Shirley Complete Series – $45.99 (Buy HERE) or The First Season – $9.06 – Buy HERE

Andy Griffith Show Season One – $9.96 – Buy HERE 

***
There you are! A mix of all sorts of things that many parents might love. Of course, this gift guide can be used for anyone you want – yourself, a sibling, a significant other, aunts/uncles, whatever you want!

Again, do you have any other gift guides you’d like to see this week now that we’re two weeks away from Christmas?

25 responses to “A Gift Guide for Parents

  1. RO

    Wow! This list is brilliant and a reminder that I need to get online before it's too late. I really enjoy this fun AND informative post. Hugs…RO

  2. This is such a great list! My mom is pretty easy to shop for. If you get her something sparkly she is happy. lol! I usually just go to Charming Charlie and grab a bunch of things. My dad is the tough one. He's a diesel mechanic and pretty serious. I usually go with fishing gear or some new beer he hasn't tried yet. haha! I'm the one in the family that would appreciate the colored pencils and coloring books.

  3. Wow, this is such a great long list! Really good ideas on here too. I always love creative or educational gifts for kids. I keep seeing this trend of giving experiences, tickets, memberships, etc. to kids. It's less material but lets the go to the zoo all year, or take a class at a art center. etc. Really neat ideas. 🙂 I like those micron pens! They are some of my favorites for sketching and lettering. I love Le Pen too! I also love how many coloring books are coming out! 🙂 I saw a Buffy the Vampire Slayer one (it's not out yet, but I was like.. I want this!) hehe. 🙂 Also, board games are my jam. Codenames is a really fun one for parties and it's so inexpensive! XO – Alexandra

    Simply Alexandra: My Favorite Things

  4. You are def the Queen of Gift Guides, Lauren. You always seem to have the best, most creative ideas for things to buy. And these are all reasonably priced items to boot!

  5. Lots of great ideas! My parents are both in their 70's and pretty tricky to buy for. I tend to go with gifting an "experience" rather than just an item. Like, movie tickets, or tickets to a concert or event, even a trip somewhere.

  6. This is SO. HELPFUL. So my mom has been NO HELP this year when I ask what she wants. Well, you totally nailed it, because she has been complaining about her phone in the winter with gloves, so those gloves will be PERFECT. Add a book that I already bought her, and maybe a bottle of wine, and we're good to go! Now, if you can do a post about 30 year old wanna-be-redneck brothers, we would be SET! 😉 Seriously, thank you for this!

  7. SO many wonderful gift suggestions here! I really love the word a day calendars and the History one I think my bf and dad would both love! And Cards Against Humanity–I had the chance to play this at a party a few months ago and it was hysterical! One of my favorite nights 🙂

    Thanks for sharing all of these ideas!

  8. I would want that polaroid camera for myself! My brother Cards Against Humanity. It is definitely an adult card game. I got my mom something she's been talking about for ages – fairytale movies. I don't think I'll get anything for my dad just because he never uses anything I give him….

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