12 Best Mother’s Day Gifts

When mom’s say they don’t want anything for Mother’s Day, what they really mean is that they enjoy bending over backward for their family – and a little token of appreciation or a few thoughtful words are all that’s needed. This square tea towel does both – and it does it effortlessly. Not only is it a great gift to give your mom, it’s excellent for moms to give their daughters (and even sons). And, of course, the price is right.

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If even a tea towel is too much for your mom to accept, how about this gorgeous Floral Bouquet Blue 3D card ($13)? It’s way more sophisticated than the popup cards you had as a child. This card creates the most beautiful display of paper flowers and will certainly sit on the mantel until July.

Or, maybe you should just do what mom wants and make her a scrumptious breakfast in bed or enjoy a leisurely Skype call. Really, it’s the kind words that matter most – to every mom.

It’s just like the cards you remember from card catalogue days. Perhaps it’s even better now that everything is online. These library card kids allow you to affix pockets to the back (or front) of the book as you used to do. With the date stamp, this practical gift for book lovers will ensure books make their way home. The card stock is high quality, and the refill sets aren’t terribly expensive (around $6)

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If the mom in your life loves her books but isn’t much of a lender, this Little Library Shelf from Anthropology is a stunning way to display favorites in any room of the house. It’s a little pricier ($100), but it’s absolutely gorgeous.

Or, what about this Out of Print Banned Books Matchbox Set ($23)? Yes, they’re matchboxes (with 20 matches in each one), but they’ve been printed with the images of books. Gotta love the irony in the Fahrenheit 451 title, don’t you?

Let’s just be clear, if the cooking or baking mom in your life doesn’t have a KitchenAid mixer, she wants one. You can be quite certain of that. There’s nothing like a heavy-duty mixer to make kitchen work smooth and fun. And, this one is available in the most gorgeous colors. Inside the box, you’ll find a flat beater, a coated dough hook, a 6-wire whip, and a 1-piece pouring shield. Some (but not all) of the attachments are dishwasher safe. And, did we mention the capacity? You can mix enough dough for 9 dozen cookies in a single session. Gotta love that.

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Can’t afford $350 this Mother’s Day? How about a new set of Joseph Joseph nesting mixing bowls and measuring cups? Not only are they compact and colorful, but you also get a colander and a sieve for a full set. It’s as perfect for new moms as it for anyone that’s been making family meals for years – and it’s less than $40.

If your mom is more of the professional sort, or has to have every gadget out there, you’re going to want to see the ChefSteps Joule Sous Vide ($200). Okay, it’s not quite professional, but it’s hugely practical and works with a Smartphone app to create the most amazing food sensations.

The most amazing thing about these packs of seeds is that nearly everyone reports an amazing sprout and grow rate. The gardening mom in your life should expect closer to 95 percent than the standard 40-50 percent sprout rate of similar products. And, because these are heirloom seeds, she can prepare next year’s crop from the seeds in her produce. Each pack is about $16 and you get 15,000 seeds. We suggest buying two packs, one for now – and one for the end of the world. If you’re interested, there are also larger variety packs, as well as herbs. How cool is that?

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Want something that will bear fruit almost immediately? How about a Calamondin Orange Tree that’s grown to the point where it’s ready to bear fruit in the first year? Prices range from $50 to $120 depending on the size of the plant.

If you just want a small token, how about a Hydrofarm Dirt Bag Reusable Planting Pot? The 5-gallon size sells for less than $10, but you can buy bags up to 400-gallons. How about a set for your mom? If a lot of her time is spent in the garden, you know she needs this.

Soccer moms have gear they need to schlep around – and we’re not just limiting this to the sport of soccer; it applies equally to all sports. This camera bag makes it totally possible to carry everything to a game and keep the camera safe. It’s waterproof and really well constructed. Users love, love, love the pull out function of the camera compartment and also find it’s a breeze to travel with this bag. It’s not cheap, but it’s absolutely worth it.

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Does she spend more time in the car shuffling kids to matches and practices than she does at the game? You might want to consider this Jabra Tour Bluetooth In-Car Speakerphone for the mom that’s driving a car without bells and whistles. For $40, it’s finally safe to talk and drive again.

If it’s all summer sports for mom, how about this Sport-Brella Umbrella Chair ($40)? Yep, it’s a foldout chair with a pair of umbrellas to block the sun – wherever it may be. Plus, you get the cup holder in the arm and a small storage pocket for keys and such. Not bad, right?

Okay, if the mom in your life is still brand new, this feeding system isn’t going to come out of the box for a couple of months. But, it won’t be that long… we swear. And, because this is compatible with the Kiinde Breast Milk Storage Twist Gift Set, you could potentially get them both right off the bat. This particular kit comes with 10 Twist Pouches, 1 Squeezable Foodie Filler, 2 Threaded Snack Spouts, and 1 Soft Silicone Squeeze Spoon with leak-proof cap. They take a little getting used to, but moms absolutely swear by them when they’re ready to get out of the house more often.

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But, there is one thing you should know about first-time new-moms – they want everything that has to do with baby, but still need a little pampering that’s all about them too. The very best gift you can give any new mom is sleep. That means you take over for as long as you can while she snoozes (that length depends entirely on whether the baby is exclusively breast fed). And, then there’s always a manicure or just a chance to be out of the house for an hour or two. Really, mom will appreciate it more than you know.

There are plenty of moms that need their coffee to get through the day. And, yet, with such busy lives, coffee tends to get cold too quickly. This handy little mug warmer is here to save the day. And, because they’re just so affordable, you may want to get one for home too – you know, for the Keurig users that can’t top-off their coffee from the pot.

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If mom isn’t a coffee (or tea… or hot chocolate) drinker, perhaps it’s time for this gorgeous Stanley Flexible Leather Phone Stand ($50). It comes in four different colors and keeps phones at just the right angle to check messages discreetly. Score!

And, there’s always this Foot Massage Roller which will help relieve aching feet when she gets home from a long day on hers. It’ll save you from the endless foot massages – and her from the pain! And, you should get it for less than $20. That’s a great buy!

A long soak in a hot bath is an amazing experience – and one that most women want to enjoy often. The difficulty is, of course, that our books and media are on tablets and cell phones. And, some tubs don’t even have a place to rest the (almost) compulsory glass of wine. This bathtub tray does it all and makes it super easy to relax. Better still, it fits across nearly any tub and looks beautiful too!

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If she’s already got a bath caddy that she loves, you may want to try this lovely little Foot Sole Massage product from Uncommon Goods ($38). Working with reflexology techniques, it’s a quick and simple way to relieve aching feet and stimulate circulation.

Still haven’t found what you’re looking for? A massage gift voucher is the best possible way to let her know you appreciate the effort she puts into the family. (Feel free to set up a spa package if you can afford it; every mom loves that.)

Not everyone is a coffee percolator type of person. If you’re a tea drinker, hot chocolate lover, or instant soup addict, there’s always a need for a kettle. While the stovetop version will work in a pinch, an electric kettle – like this gorgeous one from KitchenAid – is way more efficient. This one heats water quickly, efficiently, and remains cool to the touch. You can expect to pay between $60 and $80 depending on the color you choose. The only downfall? The cord isn’t terribly long – but we think the tea-drinking mom in your life will get over that quickly – especially as it’s safety first with her, right?

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Is it coffee or bust for your mom? This rose gold-plated Bodum 8-Cup Copper Chambord Classic Coffee Maker ($35) is sure to make her swoon. Indeed, just like the kettle, it’s bound to live on the counter where everyone can see it.

And, for a gift that keeps on giving, how about a coffee subscription? Wrecking Ball Coffee Roasters offer a range of gift subscriptions – starting around $20. Their beans are the business, and you can choose between weekly and monthly offerings.

We’re not sure what it is, but there is something soothing about watching a light show akin to standing underneath the Northern Lights. This globe projects just that on the wall or a ceiling – almost forcing mom (and everyone around her) to relax. There are a few options available to fine-tune the light show, and there’s also a built-in speaker. It’s not awesome sound, by any means, but it’s good for a relaxing bath or other smaller rooms.

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If you can afford it, might we suggest this Sonoma Outdoor Iron Gazebo Canopy ($330)? It will allow mom to create her very own oasis in the backyard. Mom will surely appreciate lounging with a book and a glass of wine on long summer afternoons.

Too rich for your blood? There’s nothing like a comfy pair of slippers. These Isotoner Women’s Microterry PillowStep Satin Cuff Clog Slippers ($20, depending on size and color) are perfect for walking down the driveway to get the paper or heading to the backyard with a cup of coffee for some early morning relaxation.

What does your mom like to show off? Very often, it’s her family! This family tree wall decal is an amazing accent piece whether you use the frame stickers (ideal for renters) or hang frames along the branches. The simple design allows the photos to speak for themselves. This is downright gorgeous.

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If mom has treasured recipes that have been handed down through the generations (or you want to pass some up to her), you can always have them transferred to a tea towel at Spoonflower.com. Indeed, why stop there, print mom some fabric from your childhood drawings or have wallpaper made with her sketches. Let mom show off anything! Perhaps she only needs a Spoonflower gift certificate to get her started.