Best Gifts for Mom
Updated: May 3, 2023
The best gifts for the mom who likes to cook, the mom who likes self-care, and the mom who has everything!
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Moms deserve everything! Our biggest cheerleaders, our support systems, the reason we need therapy (honesty is the best policy -- my mom taught me that). Below are some recommendations for every kind of mom that are out of the ordinary and hopefully just special enough for the one we love most.
I just bought this for myself and I cannot wait to get it and try it. I've only heard amazing things about these -- they're incredibly moisturizing, smell amazing, and most importantly, they're easy to travel with. That's the perk I'm most excited about because I usually end up with an overflowing liquids bag and I'm hoping this can replace the lotion I travel with which takes up a ton of space. The two scents sound so dreamy and springy and beautiful. A great, thoughtful, and unique gift that is incredibly useful!
Something she may never buy for herself, this is a great gift for her to keep in touch with her friends and family. Who doesn't love getting some mail unrelated to bills? While a little selfish to ask this, I'd ask her to send you a note that you can keep.
French Salt and Pepper Grinders
Something that's probably been around for too long but will never get replaced! Incredibly practical, these from Peugeot are crafted in France and are incredibly beautiful but durable and functional. They're a favorite among chefs professionally. I elected the graphite for pepper and white for salt to make it as easy as possible but they're all incredibly beautiful.
For the mom who travels or commutes daily, or even the one who takes great care of her electronics, a beautiful but protective sleeve that can even be monogrammed. This one well-constructed and is even eco-conscious, constructed according to LWG guidelines to protect from the wear and tear of daily life.
I got this for my mom a while back and it's perfect for travel or the office and anything in between. It's so soft but warm and is big enough to work as a blanket on a plane or as a shawl/cardigan in the office or for an evening out. Plus, it can serve its main purpose as a scarf in the winter.
This hat is functional and, according to @thingsiboughtandliked, the only truly packable hat. So many sun hats end up losing their shape when you pack them and never returning to their original state or are just plain ugly. This one is highly protective, cute, and travel-able.
These long sleeve t-shirts are sooo soft, super lightweight, thin enough to wear warmer items over them without adding bulk, and ultra flattering. They're a bit longer in the back for the mom-desired butt coverage and come in a ton of actually cute colors. My mom ended up buying more of these after I gifted them to her!
If your mom is anything like mine, getting new makeup brushes is nowhere on her mind. This set has everything you need and the brushes are high-quality at a reasonable price point which is hard to find in this day and age. My best friend loves them and says they will last just as long as your mom's last sett.
I hope heaven smells like this scent. It's floral but airy and citrusy. It smells clean and like you've just come from the spa at a really nice hotel. Their body wash is hydrating and the scent stays for a long time which is unheard of with body wash. Plus, buying a really nice body wash is probably not something she does regularly so this is a fun treat. You could also add the body lotion which is just as incredible -- super lightweight for summer months which is the best part.
Who wouldn't want a pair of Birks?! These are the most comfortable sandals ever and are great orthopedically which we know moms care about. They'll last forever which is fortunate because they're timeless!
Flowers are always a good idea -- sending them out of the ordinary is extra special so I try to do it at less expected times but they're always appreciated and brighten up the house for a couple weeks. With a sweet note, these can make anyone's day. As a tip, you can add 2 Tbsp lemon juice, 1 Tbsp sugar, and 1/2 tsp bleach to 1 quart of water to keep flowers fresh longer. This is similar to what's in the packet that usually comes with flowers so you can change the water but keep the same elements in the water to increase longevity.
While this isn't great for cooking, this is amazing for salad dressings, finishing oils, or for low-heat roasted vegetables, fish, and poultry. This one is my favorite as it's the most versatile because it's very basic but I also love the Rosette, which is infused with garlic. One or both would be a fantastic gift for the mom who likes to cook.
This bag holds so so so much and when you zip it open, it lies flat. There are two compartments separated by a zippered compartment which is extra handy for storing bobby pins, hair ties, brushes, tweezers, and other rogue small things that often get buried. It zips right up and can be taken for travel (or just used for travel), not to mention it's pretty beautiful (LV, anyone???) for the price!
While this should only be brought in carry-on bags for security reasons, this one is small but incredibly protective with a number of different compartments of varying shapes and sizes to accommodate all of your jewelry and keep it all safe. The compact size won't take up too much space in your bag, which is a finite resource in any carry on no matter how many bags you end up checking.
A pizza stone is the unspoken kitchen necessity. This one is huge (I'd recommend the 20" x 15" rectangle but even that one is very large so you could go smaller). This is a great way to zhoozh up a store bought pizza, make the perfect homemade pizza, and is even better for reheating leftovers.
Honestly, bury me in this robe. This is similar to the ones you'd find at a really nice hotel that you want to live in and end up wearing whenever you're in the room and then eventually probably falling asleep in it. This is such a luxuriously affordable gift that will probably become her mainstay clothing at home. While you're at it, get one for yourself!
Truly the best sunscreen. Not only is it highly effective, it's truly sheer, packable without taking up liquid space, and can be put on without making your hands feel gross and without needing to put your hands on your face making it ideal for on-the-go use.
I KNOW $90 for a hairbrush is asinine... But it's really that good. It's gentle but far sturdier than the wet brush which I feel like pulls my hair so much because it just gets caught in the knots. It's vented so you can more easily blow-dry your hair with it, it's got tougher bristles that really scratch your scalp in the best way without hurting, and it can be cleaned more easily than most brushes because it doesn't have beads at the end of the bristles. It's an heirloom piece she'll have forever because it's incredibly well made.
For the mom who loves to run, my sister-in-law showed me these and while they're not the cutest, they're so comfy. I've recently taken up running and plan to buy these to help with the soreness. She loves them and recommends them highly.
I've lived with roommates with this pan and I still have it. And that's saying something. With so many options in the market these days from trendy to expensive to REALLY expensive, this pan is the best I've ever found and is incredibly affordable. I love it so much I got it for my mom a few years ago and she also raves about it now.
This is a great, elevated quarter zip that is ultra soft and comes in two really nice colors. This is light enough for the summer months but great for cooler months because it's not too thick and can be layered with other jackets.
For the sentimental mom, this is a sweet collage as a reminder of some of life's greatest moments. This is particularly great with throwback photos as a reminder of memories from the past, too.
We all know that packing cubes are elite at this point, but these go an extra step of zipping down to gently compress themselves, increase the amount of luggage space you have. These are incredibly durable and are perfect for the mom who travels and loves organization OR packs too much or both.
Again, I KNOW this is overpriced in theory, but I promise it's worth every dollar. It's the only blanket that gets fought over but is never put away (because it will always come right back out). It's so soft, it washes well, it's big, and it's so luxe. If something is this expensive, it has to last and maintain its original quality and this one definitely does.
For the mom who loves to entertain in the summer (or lives in a climate warm enough to do so year-round), these table lamps took NYC by storm throughout the pandemic with the rise of outdoor dining. They're so bright without blinding anyone because of the little shade over the top which floods the table. An investment, but you don't need many of them and if they're sturdy enough for sidewalk dining here, they'll definitely last in the backyard.
This carafe is gorgeous. It's dainty but sturdy and the indents on the side make it easy to grip, even with condensation. It's fairly large without being too big so it's good for a dinner for 4-6 people and perfect for entertaining year-round.
A bag with compartments is great for the farmers market, the beach, trips, and even just visiting friends. This allows you to keep wine from clanking around while also packing your other essentials and to keep your produce safe on a farmer's market trip.
These are the very best cutting boards. On top of being sustainably made from recycled plastic and sugarcane, it's big, grips to the counter, and cleans incredibly well. It's dishwasher safe though I elect not to put it in there to prevent bowing, but on occasion or for the mom who puts everything in the dishwasher, this is likely sturdy enough to withstand that.
Show your mama some love!
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