Flowers, showers, graduations, and holidays are hallmarks of the spring season, and many of these occasions call for special gifts. To save you the legwork, following is a list of creative and practical gifts that we have given or gratefully received.
The winter holidays are typically considered the height of annual gift giving, but the spring holidays present their own need for creative, practical gift ideas. In that spirit, Emily and I have spent the last year collecting our favorite ideas to share with you.
From Easter and Passover to graduations, Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, the following list is full of items we’ve given or received. As recent graduates, my sons and their friends were especially helpful in the graduation gift department. (That can be a tough one!)
HOST GIFTS FOR EASTER & PASSOVER
To bring something, or not bring something. Usually we err on the side of bringing something to the host, but beyond flowers or a bottle of wine, it can be tough to come up with something that’s both appropriate and appreciated. Here are a few ideas we love!
Succulent Bunny
A plant is practical way to bring life indoors, and we love the whimsical Easter spin. The little rabbits bring with them low-maintenance succulents (green thumb not needed!), which arrive fully planted and ready for display.
Jewish Museum Shop
Whether it’s your first time attending a Passover Seder or a yearly tradition, it’s usually recommended not to bring food to your Seder host. The reason is that food must be Kosher for Passover and each family has their own set of guidelines for how they want to handle food around the holidays depending on their level of observance. Emily recommends the Jewish Museum Shop which has so many gifts to choose from for all ages and price points. We looked through the options together and these were our favorites, but you can search specifically for Passover Gifts and find what fits best!
Chocolate Peanut Butter Eggs
Ann’s grandmother (yes, the famous Fountain Avenue resident!) passed down her recipe for the time-tested classic treat which rivals a Reese’s peanut butter cup. The recipe can be prepared ahead of time in stages and makes enough to share with many. Package in a simple white box and tie with a festive ribbon. Your friends and family will love every bite. If you prefer Coconut Cream Eggs, these are equally divine!
Famille Rose Deviled Egg Platter
Deviled eggs (and all things eggs!) are a popular food served at Easter. Bring your own Classic Deviled Eggs in this festive platter, or present the platter to your host. The colors are beautiful and the dish is a fun gift that people may not purchase for themselves.
Ann’s Slow Cooker Maple Applesauce
Making dinner and need a good applesauce? Perfect for a Passover table, this one is easy and loved by all. Emily makes this recipe for her Passover meal and uses two tablespoons of the maple syrup as her crowd likes a tart sauce. You can keep it chunky or use an immersion blender for a smoother texture.
Ceramic Bread Basket
Leavened bread may not be served during Passover, but Jewish people all over the world enjoy warm bread other times of year (think Challah every Friday night!), making this gift appropriate for any holiday. We love that this basket is oven safe and creates a warm home for any fresh-baked bread or muffins. It’s also simple, pretty, and goes with anyone’s kitchen decor!
The Savory Gourmet for locals!
This small, family-owned and run business in the heart of Lititz has captured our hearts! It’s stocked with specialty items such as cheeses, sauces, spices, pastas, preserved fruits and jams, interesting flavors of potato chips (like scrambled egg chips – they’re actually quite amazing!), baguettes, butters, and meats you cannot find elsewhere (think snake and alligator!). A visit to the shop is an adventure in itself, and they happily share endless samples of their extensive artisan cheese collection…
…and as if tasting the unique varieties isn’t wonderful enough, the employees share interesting stories and history behind each cheese. It’s interesting and delicious at the same time. (Emily recently got a fabulous IPA cheese. Ann was pleasantly surprised by a caramel dessert cheese but took home a sharp cheddar and Danish blue.) A gift card or food basket from Savory Gourmet would be an excellent gift. In fact, Ann got one for Emily over the holidays and she has been back many times since!
Need to keep the kids entertained while the grownups linger at the table?
3-in-one Lego Creator sets should do the trick! Each box has three different animal figures or arrangements to build, so the fun can go on and on as long as needed. Stay on theme with the Easter Bunny Set or the Spring Flowerpot and Typewriter Set.
GRADUATION GIFTS
Perhaps your own kids and their friends are moving on to the next stage in their lives or you have other family members or friends who are graduating. Following are a few gift ideas for high school, college, and grad school graduations, because ’tis the season!
Garment Bag
Seniors interviewing for jobs and new graduates who will be traveling for work will be grateful for a new garment bag to keep their clothes wrinkle-free and professional. Ann’s older son has also begun traveling to lots of weddings, for which a garment bag is helpful. Christian received the monogrammed bag pictured below (currently on sale for $98.39), which she thought was such a great idea. Travel & Leisure also put together a list of their favorite garment bags, and this Nomatic was their #1 choice. For $170, they praised the bag’s durabaility, multiple compartments, and ease of carry as they took it with them all over the world!
Tool Kit
Some things tend to take a back seat to more exciting items like new bedding or a sofa for a first apartment. But when putting together new furniture, hanging pictures or a mirror, and doing the fixit jobs that inevitable pop up, a toolkit will be a lifesaver. And if you gift it, the recipient will always remember your thoughtfulness! Ann’s mom gave one to her older son when he graduated, and it has come in handy more than once. For $65, the Anvil 76-piece Homeowners Toolkit contains all the basics (and then some!) and is top rated.
Amtrak Gift Card
The train is a great way to travel, and Christian was excited when he received an Amtrak gift card for his graduation. The practical yet clever gift was much appreciated the first few times he took the train to visit friends in Philly and New York. Older son John said he would have loved that gift, and Ann could have put it to good use when visiting him in the big city!
Personalized Tumblers and Rocks Glasses
Whether used for a cocktail or one of the many non-alcoholic beverages that are so popular, these glasses will be with them for years and will be fun to use when friends are over. The City Map Whisky Tumbler can be etched with custom text and the map of any city to remind new grads of their time at school. Monogrammed Bourbon Glasses feel quite grown up and are the perfect beginnings for a well-stocked bar. Attesting to their popularity, Ann gifted the bourbon glasses last year, and the mom of one of the graduates asked her for the details so she could buy them for her husband for Christmas! For high schoolers (aka under 21!), customizable designs and/or monogrammed Tervis Tumblers is a great way to celebrate your unique graduate.
Yeti Backpack Cooler
What to get for the graduate who loves the outdoors? Ann’s son Christian was gifted the YETI Hopper M12, a backpack cooler which keeps everything inside cold. It fits 20 cans, or 12 pounds of ice, and is wine bottle compatible. The pack also has pockets for cell phones, wallets, and sunscreen. Perfect for summer hikes and a variety of outdoor time with pals.
College Graduate: Belts & Key Chains
For those students who cheered on every basketball game (or football, or volleyball, or gymnastics meet for that matter!) they will continue to root or their college teams even after graduation. These Smathers & Branson memorabilia key fobs, belts, and even driver shoes offer fun ways to keep their alma mater in their hearts. Custom “life belts” are also available, which depict an image of each stage of life on a belt!
Gift Cards to College Bookstores and Local Eateries
When Ann’s boys went off to college, they brought with them gift cards to their college bookstore and a few local cafes. These were some of their favorite gifts they received for their high school graduation. They definitely didn’t realize how much they would need (and want!) from the school store. Whether it was school sweatshirts, ball caps, books, or things for the dorm room, the extra money came in handy. Gift cards to local stores or cafes are also a great idea for soon-to-be college freshmen. When she didn’t know someone to ask for a recommendation, Ann discovered that a call to the college bookstore was usually answered by a helpful student who was more than happy to list the students’ favorite spots!
MOTHER’S AND FATHER’S DAY
Traditionally you may see two different lists–one for Mother’s Day and one for Father’s Day–but all the gifts below are suitable for either. So, this list is designed for both, and it’s appropriate for grandparents too!
Clear Glass Pot
This is a really fun item for those who like to keep an eye on what they are cooking – literally! This clear glass pot allows you to see how things are going without removing the top. A friend of ours was given this as a gift, and she reported that it was her favorite thing she had received all year. While you can cook pasta and soup in it, she uses hers to simmer homemade potpourri!
Faherty Blanket
If you haven’t yet gotten into Faherty blankets, now is the time. They are cozy and come in an appealing variety of patterns and colors. The California-based company is family owned and operated and also partners with local and national organizations to make a social and environmental impact. They also partner with Native artists and brands to end appropriation in fashion and offer authentically designed clothing that benefits Native communities. Emily gifted the blanket, pictured below, to Ann last year and both her sons and husband tried to claim it!
Personalized Golf Head Covers
Apres-Golf is owned by friends of friends of Emily’s, and she has purchased several of their items as gifts for family members this year. The company sources vintage patches, creates new patches, embroiders logos, and prints custom designs for American-made sherpa fleece golf head covers. They are super soft and plush, as well as fun and creative! Your parents (and grandparents!) will love to show them off on the course!
A Lancaster Game for Locals
Ann’s mom loves different games and brain teasers like this one. Growing up, her family would often play at the dinner table after everyone finished eating. For $24, this peg game from local store Details (with options for shipping nationwide) has a simple goal with a not-so-simple solution. It provides strategic entertainment for solo players and teams alike. Starting with 14 pieces, use any peg to jump over the next. Players must move through and clear the board until only one peg remains. And who doesn’t love Lancaster, PA?
Coleman Portable Folding Chairs
Any parent or grandparent who has kids in sports knows that, in addition to drinks, snacks, blankets, and umbrellas, you need to bring your own chairs to watch all the games. This portable camping quad chair comes in a carry bag (so helpful!) and also has cushioned seats and back, a cup holder, and a side pocket. Not too shabby! These are also ranked as best portable chair and most comfortable from Wirecutter.
Rain Boots
Spring tends to be the rainy season, and a good pair of rain boots can keep your feet nice and dry on the way to work and school, working in the yard, watching kids sporting events, or on a busy errand day. But, you don’t want them to be too bulky or uncomfortable. A matching pair of rain boots for mom and dad is a cute idea. We like Sperry which are functional, stylish (they come in all sorts of colors) and have a nice variety for men, women, and kids.
Looks like a purse, but…
It’s really just a creative way to display a beautiful small bouquet using long-lasting moss as the base! Ann purchased them locally one year for Mother’s Day gifts for friends, tucking in a pretty flower and a small gift card for a coffee at a favorite local cafe. While we have it listed here as a Mother’s Day gift, it would be well-received for Easter or Passover too! This moss purse pictured above is $16 and should be in stock shortly. This one off of Amazon is $15.87.
Fountain Avenue Kitchen Mug
Back by popular demand! For all who like the Fountain Avenue Kitchen (or just love an awesome mug!), this is a fun and practical gift. Local artist, Amy Burk, worked with us to design these one-of-a-kind mugs, and we are very excited about them. Ann wanted the mug to represent FAK without looking too “branded.” As such, the chicken from the logo is front and center while the name is discreetly placed on the handle. Making these mugs extra special, there’s also a somewhat hidden food quote and a map of Lancaster on the bottom.
The mugs are perfect for coffee and tea, and even large enough for soup. Dishwasher and microwave safe. Give as a gift to yourself or a friend. We think they stand alone, but you could pair with a favorite coffee, tea, or gift card to a local cafe. (Or even the homemade Easter eggs, linked above, or the Chocolate Peanut Clusters with Sea Salt, pictured in the mug below.)
Locals can purchase the mugs via Venmo @fountainavenuekitchen for $40 per mug, which includes sales tax. Simply enter “mug” in the caption or contact us for other payment options. We will happily ship if you don’t live nearby; contact us to for those details as well. (Did we mention that Amy made every mug by hand, down to the feathers markings on the chicken? 🐓)
Goshi Exfoliating Shower Towel
Ann first used one of these towels when visiting family in California. It was such a treat! And then very coincidently, a good friend sent her this link, saying that she and her daughters love the spa-worthy shower accessories and they would be a great addition to a Favorite Things post!
The Japanese cloth is long enough to target hard-to-reach areas, like your back, and effectively exfoliates and cleans without the abrasive texture that can leave skin red and irritated. It is rip-resistant, creates a luxurious lather with any body wash or soap (perhaps a tagalong gift?), and will leave your skin feeling soft and smooth. Available in a wide range of colors.
Parenting Books
There’s a lot of worthy buzz surrounding these books, so for the new and experienced parents and grandparents in your life, the gift of reading may provide some thoughtful insight and prove to be a good conversation starter.
The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins encourages the reader to worry only about what you can control, and not to worry so much about what other people think. Her catchphrase “let them” has become a movement for how people handle their own relationships as well as parenting. This was one of Ann’s book club reads, and though the concept seemed quite simple, the book was far more interesting than she anticipated. The book (which the author, herself, narrates for the audiobook version) led to one of the most lively and introspective book club discussions in recent memory. Jack even read it, which led to some great conversations at home. There’s something in this book for everyone, from young adults and parents of all ages to those in their golden years.
In The Anxious Generation, author Jonathan Haidt provides research behind why smartphones and related technology have contributed to the increase in mental health challenges for youth. It’s essentially a call to action to protect our youngest from constant interaction with devices and the open web. For those who have young kids or grandkids, this book is particularly helpful as a reminder to how to hold off on too much (and certain kinds) of screen time until they move out of pre-adolescence. This goes hand in hand with the “wait until 8th” movement, for parents with kids in the same class to pledge together to hold off on giving kids their own phones until 8th grade.
Dr. Becky Kennedy’s Good Inside is like a handbook for how to parent, how to speak to and interact with our children, and especially how to handle “tricky” situations (you’ll find that “tricky” is her favorite word!). Many parents try to emulate her style which aims to prioritize connecting with kids rather than overcorrecting them. It’s a reminder to think about how much our actions and words can impact kids as we all move through life together.
Keep little ones busy while the grownups linger with coffee and chatting?
Please comment below, and let us know, what are your favorite springtime holiday gifts this year?
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