Hey. Did you know Mother’s Day is this weekend?

Shocking, I know.

Because you haven’t been bombarded with advertisements from flower companies since Easter, right?

Alright, well I’m about to bombard you with one more “gift idea” type post…because I’m a mama’s girl, so I’m feeling inspired. And if your mom is anything like mine, you ask her what she wants for some holiday or another and she either says “Nothing,” or comes up with something cheesy like “You’re a gift, you don’t need to buy me anything!” And you know, as much as I love my mother, sometimes I wish she’d just say “You know, I’ve had my eye on this new juicer,” or something for a change.

Luckily, I’m a girl, so I know my mom’s personal style pretty well (she also has a very distinct style, to where we’ve started labeling shirts “Miriam Shirts” because they look exactly like something she would buy). But sometimes, I get sick of always buying her the same types of things (usually clothes, since that’s my easy fallback), and the woman insists she doesn’t need anything.

So…what’s a kid to do?

I hate those types of “gift idea” posts that just list things with photos and links, but don’t really give you any novel ideas. Anyone can find some humorous apron on Etsy and say it’s perfect for mom…but not all moms are the same (duh). My mom doesn’t even like to cook! If I bought her an apron, it would HAVE to be as a gag gift or she’d probably be insulted.

All that being said, my “gift ideas” are going to be a bit more abstract…so if you don’t want to think very hard about who you are/who your mom is/what she likes/etc., then find a slideshow post. But, since you’re going the extra mile, I’m going to make your search for the perfect gift easier by providing links as well as many gift options here, at my full store.

So, if you have the type of mom who “has everything,” then read on and get a little creative with me.

 

First things first: Take sixty seconds right now to think about your mom.

What does she like to do for fun? Where are her favorite restaurants? What’s her style like? What are her weaknesses (hint: chocolate)? What are some fun memories the two of you share? Who is she as a person? …As a mother?

Hopefully you could answer at least one of those questions. If not…you may want to buy her some flowers and call it a day. Just kidding. Think a little harder!

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Let’s start with a cop-out and every man’s go-to when buying a gift for a woman: jewelry.

It’s a classic for a reason! I’ve been helping out in the distribution center for Kendra Scott for the last couple of weeks, helping them to gear up for the massive amounts of Mother’s Day orders (side note: the ladies at KS are AWESOME! I was super impressed with how well-managed the shifts were and how friendly and helpful my superiors were.) Now, unlike most girls, I was not exactly a kid in a candy store here. Don’t get me wrong, I fully appreciate the beauty of jewelry (especially Kendra Scott), but I’m pretty simple as far as bling is concerned. But you know who rocks statement jewelry (pun intended)? My mother. So, instead of making a wish list for myself, I made mental notes of all the pieces I knew my mother would love. It’s funny that I’m writing this, because that woman will probably be getting Kendra Scott for at least one holiday for the next 10 or more years.

Picking out jewelry can be as easy or difficult as you make it. For the trendy mom, I suggest Kendra Scott’s Harlow statement piece. If your mom is a bit more conservative, I saw a lot of Elisa Pendant necklaces with “Happy Mother’s Day!” notes attached; it’s sparkly, but simple. If her style is more modern, try the Alex drop earrings. And finally, if you’re feeling sentimental, create a charm necklace with your (and your siblings, if applicable) birthstone. Peruse my shop for a few of my other favorite pieces.

Another  cop-out: Perfume.

It’s actually more complicated than you think. If you’re a guy, I suggest stealthily finding out what she already wears. If you think you know her taste but what to give her something new, you can find a few of my mom’s faves here.

Just keep in mind that perfume is tricky; a woman’s preference in scent is just as diverse as the options to choose from, if not more so. It’s also expensive, so unless you’re pretty confident that you know what she likes, I’d suggest spending your money on jewelry…or literally anything else that she’d probably get more use out of.

For the busy mom…

Whether your mom’s schedule is filled with board or PTA meetings, we’d be lying if we said mothers were not busy people. I can’t speak for all moms (especially since I’m not one myself!), but my own mommy does not take nearly enough time for herself to just relax. If your mom is in a similar situation, you can buy her a gift card to the nearest spa, or put a little bit of effort into a cute “spa basket.” Bonus points if you include a coupon to be her personal masseuse or manicurist.

Grab a basket, or even a gift bag will do, and pick out a scented candle. Lavender is great for relaxation, but if you know her favorite scent, that’s great too! You can also add lotion (either regular, aromatherapy, or massage lotion/oil) a few bottles of nail polish, and maybe even a foot scrub. For the cherry on top, order this electronic callus remover (I can say from experience that it’s awesome. I have dancer feet…so they’re gross…and after using it, I felt like a completely different person!) to give her the perfect pedicure.

For the wine snob…

This very accurately describes my own mother…although, no matter how many glasses of wine she consumes, she still has to ask my step-dad to uncork the bottle for her. If your mom is struggling with the cork screw, figuratively lend her a hand by buying her an electronic wine opener.

If that’s not enough, you can always put together a wine-themed gift bag. Include washable wine glass markers (they’re way too much fun), corks (I suggest Baiji, especially if she likes sparkling wine), and of course…a bottle of her favorite type. If you don’t know what kind of wine (ie; Merlot, Chardonnay, etc.), then head to a local wine store and ask for a suggestion. If you know what’s on the dinner menu for Mother’s Day, ask the clerk for a recommendation to go with…chicken, for example.

Does she love to decorate?

Or maybe she has an odd obsession with place-mats, like my mom does. Either way, I presume you know what your mother’s house looks like, so order a few throw pillows or a framed canvas that matches her decor.

Our kitchen has an Espresso-Paris theme…so it’s pretty easy to find trinkets and decorations to match. If your house doesn’t have a theme, hopefully you know what color the walls are, and can coordinate accordingly.

If your mother is legitimately an interior designer, you may want to skip this, or just buy her a gift card to Bed Bath & Beyond…

How does she spend her precious free time?

If your mom is outdoorsy and likes to spend her Saturdays hiking or at the park…well, I’m not really sure what to tell you, as this is not my area of expertise. Maybe buy her new hiking boots? Plan a day to pack a picnic lunch and go with her? I don’t know…I’m just trying to get you thinking, here.

If your mom loves to watch Lifetime or whatever is dramatic on Netflix…buy her popcorn, candy, and pay for her subscription. If she’s into Oprah, buy her all the episodes (my mom REALLY misses The Oprah Show…). Get where I’m going here?

As for me, my mom loves to read. She’s actually in a book club…classic suburban mom, right? If she doesn’t already have one, an e-reader is a great gift…and if she does have one, but her a cute case so she doesn’t break it. If she’s got all that covered or would rather read a physical copy of a book (like me), an Amazon gift card is probably a safe bet.

Finally, play up her sense of humor or just do something cute.

If she’s obsessed with her dogs (or cats), order her a “dog mom” t-shirt. My mom bought herself a “Shih-Tzu Mom” sweatshirt and she wears it all the time. I’m serious.

Framing photos of you and your mom (and siblings?) is always a safe bet…and also very affordable. If you’re into photography, you can also print out an artistic photo of your own and frame it as a decoration for her house.

Along those lines, you can also have custom-made shirts, sweatshirts, mugs, and God knows what else made at Walgreens or on Snapfish (as well as about a million other websites). It’s cute. It’s sentimental. And even if it sits in a drawer and collects dust, she’ll appreciate the gesture.

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Hopefully this helped at least a little bit. If not, well…thanks for reading! Just kidding. Check out the rest of my gift ideas in my Amazon Store and if you’re still coming up blank, feel free to shoot me an e-mail (mariercarlson@gmail.com).

I’m hoping that at least reading my Miriam-Inspired ideas helped you come up with a few of your own! Happy (early) Mother’s Day to all you fabulous moms out there! 🙂