Going on the hunt for the perfect present is one of my favorite pastimes. My mom will tell you I’ve always loved to shop- an indoor mall, an outdoor mall, an outlet mall- but not just malls! Museum gift shops, church gift shops, hospital gift shops, thrift shops, consignment shops – if it has “shop” or “gift” in the name, I am there. As much as I wish I had time to stroll leisurely through any “shop” this year, Father’s Day will likely end up being unofficially sponsored by Amazon Prime, USPS, and expedited shipping – and I know many of you are in the same boat! But just because we’re all getting down to the wire, doesn’t mean we’re not thoughtful gift givers! It isn’t that we don’t care or forgot, but perhaps time got away from us while we were busy trying to figure out that perfect gift and now we just need a little extra hustle to deliver on that! So here are some ideas that have been hits in the past, that we still have time to get – though if you’re a procrastinator like me it might involve some extra postage.
Baseball Hat – Curtis loves the Imperial brand because they’re well-made and come in a variety of sizes so if you have huge heads like we do, they’re perfect. They fit better than any hats he’s ever had. And you can customize them. His favorite is the one he did with a Miller Lite can. That isn’t my favorite look of his, but I pick my battles. They are sweat wicking and clean up easily. His request this year is the retro looking Wrightson performance rope hat, which I can get behind. Another great option is Smather’s and Branson – they have a wide selection of professional and college teams and the classic needlepoint is a nice touch.
Procrastination Level: Mild
Imperial – 3 days , Smather’s and Branson (via Amazon) – 3-5 Days
Blue Wave Aqua Golf – So I haven’t personally tried this but I am getting it for my Dad who is a big golfer. I think even a casual golfer would have fun with this. I know I would!
Procrastination Level: Amazon Prime
Death Star Ice Mold – If you have a scotch drinker and a Star Wars fan, this is a nod to the cinematic classic. This would probably even be enjoyed by the littlest Star Wars fans, but with some lemonade instead of the hard stuff. Apparently, it can be used as a chocolate mold so if the Dad in your life is a chocolate making hobbyist I will be both impressed and intrigued.
Procrastination Level: Amazon Prime
Personalized Golf Items – Thanks to Amazon, you can send a personalized golf towel or these handy golf stickers to your favorite golfer!
Procrastination Level: Mild
Socks – Socks? For Father’s Day? Groundbreaking. But seriously, these Nice Laundry monogrammed socks have been a huge hit. We recently gifted them to one of our favorite guys and the report is that these are his go-to pair. They’ve held up, are comfortable, and the monogram detail adds a little pep to his step.
Procrastination Level: Mild (3-5 days free shipping), Professional – 10.95 for guaranteed 3 day
Performance Clothing – Curtis pretty much only wears performance clothing at this point. If it isn’t sweat-wicking, it isn’t in his closet. That’s a little exaggerated but pretty close to the truth. A favorite gift for our favorite guys was started by a fellow Sarasotan and fellow SMU alum. Mizzen & Main shirts are the perfect performance gear gift. They’re great for a long workday, date night, Sunday morning church or I’ve even seen them work under tuxedos for outdoor affairs. These shirts have no limits. When working from home, Curtis is usually more casual, so he practically lives in Southern Tide polos. If you are gearing up for a summer by the water or the special guy in your life plans to be outside a ton, these sun shirts from Southern Tide are also great. He also loves Birddogs and says “I have to” include them here. They are his favorite gift ever from my sister and he wears them around the house and in the pool – they’re super comfortable and versatile.
Procrastination Level: Amazon Prime
Swimsuits – Such a perfect summer gift for that Dad in your life, and even more thoughtful get a matching set for Dad and his littles. Lilly Pulitzer and The Beaufort Bonnet Company are a good go-to for matching, but I also recently found that Dallas brand Dondolo has cute sets! You can do father-son, or father-daughter. But even if you don’t go matching, a swimsuit is a great gift for summer!
Procrastination Level: Are you feeling lucky?
Lilly Pulitzer: 3-6 business day shipping free, up to Overnight Delivery for $35.
The Beaufort Bonnet Company: 5-10 business days $10 up to $35 for Overnight Delivery.
Experience – What does the Dad in your life love? Is he big into fishing? Would he enjoy a cooking class or a brewery tour? How about a favorite team? We all know that Dad who’s love language is quality time and experience gifts are some of the most thoughtful because you can tap into something they truly love with bonus points if it includes spending time with the ones he loves! These kinds of gifts can also be ultra-convenient for the thoughtful procrastinator because event tickets or e- gift cards to experiences can be printed off the night before, or morning of, and put in a pretty card for the recipient to use at a later date!
Procrastination Level: DEFCON 1 – “Wait, Father’s Day is in June?!”
Donation – Similar to an experience gift, this can be pretty last minute, but the thoughtfulness element for the right recipient is there. I feel like “donation” gifting is a somewhat polarizing approach in that some feel like it either isn’t appropriate or simply isn’t a good gift. But we all know those Dads who say they don’t want anything – and mean it – but would absolutely love to know that something good was happening in their honor. My father-in-law is the perfect candidate for a gift like this, he’s worked locally with Habitat for Humanity in a variety of ways and Curtis thinks a gift in his honor would really strike a chord. When I have done this in the past, I use Charitynavigator.com, an online resource that vets non-profits. If you’re still on the fence as to whether or not this kind of gift meets etiquette criteria, Peter Post of the Post Institute and THE Post etiquette family asserts that it can be a great gift for the right person, as long as you don’t use the gift as a way to push a personal agenda on to someone else!
Procrastination Level: Super Thoughtful Expert
Act-of-Service – Does your Dad need a new speaker system and you’re the techie in the family who is right for the job? Does he want to go to the newest superhero movie and needs a date? Then make up a coupon for him to deliver on those acts and here is the key – put things in place to make this actionable. Have some workable dates ready to offer up when you give him the gift. I used to make coupon books for my mom that included aspirational offers like “not talking back” and “keeping my room clean”. The thought was there, but my angsty teenage ability to follow through was limited. If you really want to get fancy, places like Etsy and VistaPrint offer tools to help make a printable gift certificate that looks pretty legit! But you can always go the homemade route and surely it’ll be just as appreciated.
Procrastination Level: Mother Theresa, but if she procrastinated.
So just because you might be closing in on Father’s Day, doesn’t mean you don’t have time for a thoughtful gift. No matter how you choose to honor the Dad in your life, I’m sure it will be special and cherished!
All great ideas!!
I am really liking those Death Star molds! They would also make some great snowballs!!