Some moms seem to have everything — or just about everything — they need. They probably already have about 48 “World’s Greatest Mom” mugs piled up from over the years, nor do they need another apron to add to an overflowing kitchen drawer. The trick to great gifting is to find something useful that won’t gather dust in the back of a closet. But if you’re scratching your head on what to get on Mother’s Day for the women in your life, here are some practical ideas they’ll actually use.
Gift Much-Needed Sleep
Other than alone time, many mothers say they want more sleep. So, look for things that will enhance the few Zzzz’s she does get. For starters, the Dr. Harris Anti-Wrinkle Sleep Mask is no ordinary eye mask. It has silicone dots that hit key pressure points that relax the area and minimize wrinkles (namely the lines that settle between the brows). The silicone dots are also strategic for keeping the mask in place through the night. If she doesn’t have a silk pillowcase, introduce her to their benefits with this option from Night. It helps reduce dust mites, hair snagging, and skin creases.
If she needs help falling asleep, consider gifting BetterSleep, an app that offers soothing sounds, guided meditations, and books and relaxation for kids as well. Slumber is very user-friendly for the mom who wants to get straight into some meditation or hear a relaxing story to drift off to. If she’s new to meditation, Ten Percent Happier may be a good place to start as it features introductory guides to the practice.
Gift an A+ Beauty Routine
Speaking of nighttime routines, the mama in your life will love ending her night with the Sunday Riley Go to Bed With Me kit. It comes with a complete anti-aging routine (including bestsellers like Ceramic Slip Cleanser, Pink Drink Essence, Good Genes Lactic Acid Treatment, Luna Sleeping Night Oil, and more) to get her skin glowing and hydrated while she sleeps.
Want to complete her regimen? Pair it with the Wake Up With Me kit that has all the must-haves (like Light Hearted SPF 30) to start her day on a radiant note.
Gift a Happy Hour at Home
DIY a basket of mom’s favorite libations — and you can print a cocktail recipe and give her all the ingredients with the proper glasses. If she doesn’t drink, try a personal-size blender and include some bags of frozen fruit for her to whizz up. Kids can also make up some recipe cards with ingredients they think mom would like.
Gift an Herb Garden
Does mom suffer from a brown thumb? She can still enjoy the benefits of gardening with a window-sill herb garden that’s a low-maintenance option for fresh greens in the house. And of course, you can always go the flower route, but make it personal. For example, look up her birth-month flower if you don’t know her favorite, and order one of Farmgirl’s burlap-wrapped bouquets.
If she could benefit from a truly no-fuss way to grow some greens, the Click & Grow at-home gardens let her grow herbs, fruit, veggies, and flowers with the garden’s built-in lighting and water system.
Or maybe she’d rather consume than DIY. Gift her a box of beautiful in-season produce or bake her some of her favorite treats. And of course, most mothers would love a night off cooking or even thinking about what to make for dinner. Make it yourself, order in, or hire a local chef to treat the whole family.
Gift a Family Tree
Help her discover more about her past with a subscription to 23andMe or Ancestry. With a small sample of her DNA, she’ll get a comprehensive family history and find relatives through the app.
Gift a Picnic
April showers bring May flowers, so go out there and enjoy them. Create your own charcuterie board or look up a local company like Pop Up Picnic Co. in San Diego or Perfect Picnic in NYC to create a grazing board for her. If she’s a reader, check out our latest roundup of new spring releases to add to her list while she’s basking in the great outdoors. History of the World in 21 Women features thoughtfully researched stories of 21 women pioneers and their achievements. If she likes fiction novels with strong female leads, get her Great Circle or The Paris Secret. Make sure she has something to lay on outside like a Tesalate Bora Bora towel. It’s oversized (it fits two people comfortably) and if they’re picnicking at the beach, it repels sand.
Gift a Good Hair Day
For many moms, their hair is just never the same after giving birth thanks to hormones and postpartum shedding. Welle Co. Hair Elixir is a powerful vegan capsule that helps hair feel thicker, stronger, and healthier. It’s a blend of biotin, amino acids, omegas, and zinc that nourishes new hair and maintain healthy hair follicles.
Gift Her No-Makeup Makeup
Mom doesn’t need to be a makeup pro in order to have her feel like her best self — just a few essentials to bring out her inner glow. The Jones Road Jeanne Kit has four everyday products to warm up her complexion, including a buildable blush for her cheeks, a shimmery shadow she can simple rub on with her finger tips, an eye pencil, and pink-gold gloss (no mirror needed).
Gift Her a Fragrant Home
Chances are mom doesn’t need yet another candle to add to the collection. Plus, it always feels like the nicest candles are too pretty to light. Enter: the Vitruvi Stone Essential Oil Diffuser to scent her home naturally. It’ll last way longer than a candle and you won’t have to guess her favorite scent — she can continue to switch it up with different oils.
If none of the above suggestions seem like the right fit for the mom you’re buying for this mother’s day, then ask her. Yep, just ask. And then: Make it happen.
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