Minny & Paul Partners with Wit & Delight for Mother's Day Gift Box

Curated gift box service Minny & Paul debuted last year with a series of curated boxes intended to make the gifting process easier and more thoughtful while celebrating locally made, artisanal products. Now, the company has partnered with Kate Arends Peters of the popular lifestyle blog Wit & Delight for its first guest-curated box, just in time for Mother’s Day (Sunday, May 14). Dubbed “Refresh,” the box is intended both for mothers as well as those looking for a spring rejuvenation.

Minny & Paul founder Laura Waldman says she initially came up with the idea to partner with Arends when she was in the beginning stages of starting her company in early 2016. “What if we had Kate curate a box for mothers?” she says. “She’s an amazing new mama —how perfect would that be?”

Via a blog post on witanddelight.com, Peters writes on the partnership, “[Mother’s Day] is one of those holidays where the pressure is on to find unique gifts that say ‘thanks for everything—seriously,’ and doing so requires more than just visiting the local mall.”

The box includes dark chocolate by Mademoiselle Miel, a set of letterpress thank-you cards by Indigo and Snow with Printerette Press, the Soap Lodge’s Rosemary Lavender Scrub, Miss Violet Lace’s CALM sensory perfume, a ceramic cup by Sam Longley Clay, rosemary peppermint lip balm by Singularity Handmade, a watercolor floral card by Hello I’m Kate, all packaged in a custom-made wooden keepsake by WAAM Industries. The box is $88 with shipping and handwritten note included (keep in mind shipping takes 3-7 days), and is available both online at minnyandpaul.com and at a handful of pop-up shopping events this month:

  • Tattersall Distilling Company: Wednesday, May 3 from 4-8 p.m.
  • Alchemy Edina: Saturday, May 6 from 8-11 a.m.
  • Hewing Hotel: Sunday, May 7 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
  • Projects in Person (PIP): Saturday, May 13 from 1-4 p.m.
  • Art-A-Whirl weekend at Northrup King Building (#211): Friday, May 20 from 5-10 p.m.; Saturday, May 21 from noon-8 p.m.; and Sunday, May 22 from noon-5 p.m.

If the Refresh box isn’t for you, Minny & Paul will also have its other gift box options on hand, including a rustic-themed box with a leather-and-tobacco-scented candle from Minneapolis Chandlery, bottle opener by Woodchuck, and a leather coaster set from Leather Works MN (perfect for Father’s Day); plus a love-themed box; a “girlfriend gratitude” box (a great idea for bridesmaids); and a home and housewarming-inspired box, ranging in price from $48 to $105 at minnyandpaul.com.

More Mother’s Day shopping events and gift ideas:

Woodchuck USA: The Minneapolis-based brand has put together a Mother’s Day-themed package featuring the brand’s Minnesota state inlay wood cover journal, a magnet, a jar of Truffle Hill English toffee and turtle buttercrunch popcorn, and a dark chocolate bar in the shape of Minnesota, all enclosed in a hand-crafted Baltic birch box. Plus, Woodchuck will plant a tree with every purchase. $43 (originally $84) @ woodchuckusa.com

Grethen House: The women’s designer clothing boutique is offering a special gift card offer in honor of Mother’s Day—receive a $20 gift card with the purchase of a $100 gift card. @ Grethen House Edina, 4930 France Ave. S., Edina, 952-926-8725, and Grethen House North Loop, 212 Third Ave. N., Suite 109, Minneapolis, 612-339-5702, grethenhouse.com

Atelier957: The artsy Grand Avenue boutique is hosting a day of Mother’s Day shopping with pop-up shopping from local chocolatier Mademoiselle Miel and Helen Wang Jewelry, wine, coffee, and snacks. Saturday, May 6 from noon-3 p.m. @ Atelier957, 957 Grand Ave., St. Paul, 651-646-0111, atelier957.com

russell + hazel: The North Loop gift and stationery shop celebrates moms with a pop-up blow-dry and makeup bar from stylist Stephanie Domrose, a pop-up flower stall with Foxglove Market, and russell + hazel’s curated goods. Saturday, May 13 from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. with hair and makeup touch-ups by appointment and flower stall from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. @ russell + hazel, 219 N. Second St., Suite 106, Minneapolis, 612-353-4149, russellandhazel.com

Mill City Farmer’s Market: Mother’s Day weekend marks the second outdoor market of the season, with more than 120 farmers, food artisans, restaurants, and small businesses, plus cooking demos, a mini farm, live music, kids’ activities, and giftable goods for sale from local potters, woodworkers, jewelers, textile artists, and milliner Celina Kane, who will showcase her latest collection for her hat line, Hat Make (above)*. Saturday, May 13 from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. @ Mill City Museum, 704 S. Second St., Minneapolis, millcityfarmersmarket.org

*You can also find Hat Make hats for sale at Alexis Baily Vineyard during its Mother’s Day tasting event, with no tasting fee and live jazz music on Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 14 from 11 a.m.-5:30 p.m. (18200 Kirby Ave. S., Hastings, abvwines.com)