Young House Love

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2012 Holiday Gift Guide: For The Guys

When Sherry made a mood board of gifts that kids and ladies might like, there were actually a bunch of requests for a guy-gifts version from me. Color me surprised. But who am I to deny the people what they want? (cut to me muttering quiet profanities while trying to make a mood board). The good news is that ten hours later I emerged victorious. Fist bumps for everyone! I won’t even pretend that the items below will tickle every guy’s fancy (do men even having “fancies?”), but here are a dozen items that I wouldn’t mind finding under the tree…

1. This HOMAGE NYC tee, which I’m actually wearing right now. I treated myself to this $20 Fab.com find a few weeks ago and the best part is that Clara says “C for Clara!” when she sees it.

2. I’m a sucker for a good notebook. Yep, even dudes need to write things down now and again. So this $10 hand-stamped brown spiral notebook from Etsy seems like a pretty perfect place to jot down your “nefarious ideas.”

3. I haven’t actually used this GYRO screwdriver from Black & Decker, but every time I walk by it at the store I’m intrigued. It’s like the Segway scooter from www.MyProScooter.com of screwdrivers, interpreting the twist of your wrist to the direction you want to drive your bit. Screwdriving of the future perhaps?

Daddy Mood Board2

4. I will always have a soft spot for vintage travel posters, so these caught my eye a few weeks ago. Sadly there’s no Richmond poster yet, but there are still lots of options for those of you who live in (or have a love for) a bigger metropolis.

5. Fist pump… in poster form. Need I say more? I do. This fresh $20 print comes to you straight from Richmond.

6. I couldn’t do a mood board without something bike-y on here, right? So how about this $18 leather wallet from Etsy, which can even be personalized for no extra charge. That means more cash to keep in your… well, you know.

7. These are man cave bookends if I ever saw ’em. And while I like the classic green color of these oversized army men, I think they could also look pretty sweet spray painted charcoal, navy, or even in Sherry’s go-to glossy white.

8. Here’s another suggestion straight from my closet: this striped hoodie from American Apparel is just about the most comfortable thing I own these days. The $45 price tag is a bit more than I usually spend on a sweatshirt, but I’m most definitely getting my money’s worth this winter.

9. This WOW Bluetooth Speaker comes in several colors, but this yellow one caught my eye first. They’re available in a few places around the internet, but the best price I’ve seen hails from eBay.

10. I’m a fan of giving magazine subscriptions to my brothers-in-law for the holidays, and this rustic magazine rack (made from reclaimed materials) could be another option. It’s more expensive than a magazine subscription, so a few of the bro-in-laws would probably go in on it together.

11. The Oatmeal cracks me up on a regular basis, so I see guaranteed laughs for anyone who receives the gift of How To Tell If Your Cat Is Plotting To Kill You.

12. While I wouldn’t normally suggesting giving a guy scented candles, even I can get behind “man candles” which smell like fresh cut grass, a campfire, and (my personal favorite) sawdust.

So that’s my dude-y dozen. Do you guys have any favorites of the mix? Or are there any other items that you’re getting the dudes in your life that you’d like to share?

Update: You can check out all of our favorite holiday decor finds here – many of which are under $15! 

Comments

  3. Ariel says

    Um, is it bad that I actually gasped when I saw that there are sawdust-scented candles? I’m a giant weirdo and totally want this for myself. I breathe extra deeply walking through the lumber section of home improvement stores. My boyfriend thinks (knows?) I’m crazy, but I can’t help it. :-)

    Reply

  4. Cassondra says

    We just got that Oatmeal book last week, and have the first one about punching the dolphin too. Ha, glad to hear some other Christians can appreciate the crude humour of The Oatmeal. Hyperbole & a Half (although it doesn’t run anymore) had amazing comic potential too.

    Reply

  6. Devon says

    We were talking at work yesterday about “dad gifts” and how many families have “the” gift they get their dad over and over again. Mine? Pickles. haha – my dad and I are obsessed with them, so I spend weeks finding the coolest variations out there (and hoping he decides to share haha)

    Reply

  7. kirsten says

    OMG! Just saw you guys on tv! Flipping channels to catch the news, I did a classic (and very real!) double take… ‘wait, what? That’s Jon and Sherry!! I know them, I’ve talked with them on the street!!…Wait… What?!’ Haha! So surreal. Great job! You were both adorable!

    Reply

  8. Megan Circelli says

    Man candles! Haha.

    So I was listening to the radio and I heard Lady Antebellum being interviewed and I thought it was John and Sherry Petersik. Hilarious!

    Reply

  10. Koliti says

    Hey John! This is your FIRST mood board? Well, as all the cool kids say “You killed it!” Chalk one up for nefarious ideas.
    (PS hey, it that you modeling the hoodie in #8?)

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Haha, thanks! It’s probably my third, but I’m no pro like Sherry. And as much as that looks like me (you know I’m a famous hoodie model) it’s oddly enough another guy. Go figure!

      -John

  13. Molly says

    My dad is not easy to shop for, but I’ve gotten a few enthusiastic responses from some gifts over the years.

    *He was in the peace corps and I found photographs on etsy from the region where he served–he loved them!
    *Tickets to MLB opening day
    *Tickets for a brewery tour

    This year, he’s getting a baseball score book and I’m making him a display for all of his road race medals (if nothing else, he’ll be proud I’m using a the drill he gave me!)

    In the end, I think experiences are the best presents. Everyone needs some fun, right?

    Reply

  14. Jennifer F says

    This is a great list! Thanks for taking the time! I have the hardest time with the guys in my family, so this might help out!

    Reply

  15. Terresa says

    Oh sheesh!! I just went to look at the rustic magazine rack, which isn’t priced too high, but OMG that pic on the cover of that magazine. I can see why you didn’t put that one on the mood board!

    Reply

  16. Rhapsody says

    LOL — I just actually sent my brother #11 a few weeks ago. Mainly for the poster. I also like the Oatmeal’s explanation on the murderousness (is that a word?) of cats in their “how much do cats actually kill?” I hope my brother likes the book as much as you do!

    Reply

  18. Maggie says

    That drill thing looks neat! Was just telling my guy yesterday that I really want a Dremel now that I’ve seen how much use you get out of yours, but since he’s already done shopping I think it will be an anniversary gift ;) My parents were weirded out when he got me a sander for my birthday one year, but I think it’s great! Haha. Oh and I love the smell of sawdust so maybe the man can is more gender neutral? Lol.

    Reply

  20. Lucy says

    Great gift guide, I have just ordered the Cat book for dear husband, as his favourite line is ‘ and what evil are you plotting today Mr Bigglesworth?’!!

    Reply

  24. Wendy says

    My hub’s b-day is 5 days after Christmas, so we opt to focuson b-day gifts instead.

    We believe that we have a few permanent Christmas gifts: our health, our life together, and this year..our daughter born 20 days before Christmas.

    For his b-day he’ll be getting: TP reading material (thanks to a fellow comment on a previous YHL post), a photo of his girls, a long car ride w/his family in the mountains(which e loves!), and who knows what else? :-)

    Reply

  25. amanda says

    Every now and then I give my husband really fancy steaks. He thought it was weird the first time but once he got over the surprise he totally loved it. It was for sure in the top five ever.

    Reply

  26. Christina @ Floridays Mom says

    Love the Vintage Travel poster tip…its a wonderful one that any man could put in in a garage, man room, or even framed nicely in an office. Great way to give a shout out to a hometown or somewhere you’ve traveled together. I love when I can give my hubby something sentimental without it screaming ‘cheesy sentimental’ to everyone else. Great list!

    Reply

  27. Mrs Patty says

    Thanks to Jon and Sherry for some good ideas. I actually ordered 2 gifts (one from each of your lists) for holiday gifts that I just couldn’t think of what to get. Happy Holidays!

    Reply

  29. Tracy says

    Well done, John! Great ideas for a procrastinator like myself. Thanks for reppin’ Seattle! (See you guys in January for the Tacoma WA. book tour)

    Reply

  30. Madelaine says

    OMG!

    My husband brought home “How To Tell If Your Cat Is Plotting To Kill You” a few weeks ago! I read a little bit each night for about a week and was crying I was laughing to hard. It’s a great book, especially for all the cat parents out there!

    Reply

  31. Christy says

    OMgoodness!! I love that Seattle poster I lived there for about 3 years and loved it! Sadness, it’s sold out!!! But I WANTS it!!! Heh pretty cool find. :)

    Reply

  32. Kierstin says

    So is a man candle a “mandle”?

    I bought my husband a TRAPP candle, No. 41 Black Pepper, and it’s become my favorite scent of all time. Spicy and very gender neutral. I’m not sure my husband has thought about it that much, but hey, if the wife is happy, the husband is happy by proxy, right?

    Reply

  33. Katie says

    Haha – My boss just gifted me with the “How to tell if your cat is trying to kill you” book for Christmas today. I am a cat lover…and he is not. I love it!

    Reply

  34. Jessie H. says

    Thanks for enlightening me to the Army men bookends! My Army hubby will appreciate these in his office.

    Merry Christmas to you guys!

    Reply

  35. Abbey says

    I totally bought my husband “How to Tell If Your Cat is Plotting to Kill You” on a whim for Christmas – not knowing what he would think (although he loves our cats and all things related to them). Knowing that John likes it is totally validating!

    Reply

  36. Anika says

    Thank you so much, John, for taking the time to create this list! It’s so refreshing to get a different and varied wish list for men, and I love supporting some smaller businesses to boot. I will definitely be adding a few of these as last minute gift ideas. Thanks!

    Reply

  37. JMay says

    I bought my brother, also John, the cat book and it was a hit. I haven’t heard him laugh so much as he did when he was going through that book. Thanks for the helpful gift idea!

    Reply

  38. Bethany says

    Hey John — or anybody else looking back at old holiday posts like I am — just a heads up that the American Apparel hoodie is on sale now for $22.50!

    Reply

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