Mother's Day is coming up in a few weeks and whether you are a dad lurking on a mom blog looking for gift ideas (Wow! A man on Mommy Shorts!), a child looking for gifts for your mother (that should be almost everyone, right?), or a mom looking for gifts for herself (you deserve it, damnit!), I've got some ideas for you.
Below are 48 gift ideas (some sponsored, some not), and a HUGE GIVEAWAY at the end. I'm giving away everything from a Keurig brewer to a Lily Jade bag to an Olympus camera in one big grand prize, so this is NO JOKE. Someone out there (it could be you!) will be my biggest giveaway winner of all time.
Plus, look out for special Mommy Shorts promo codes to get some of these gifts at a discount.
We all know how it is. Your baby starts crying and your toddler pulls off your covers, forcing you to wake up against your will. There is breakfast to be made. Dirty diapers to change. Hair to untangle. The only way I can get through my mornings is with coffee. The easiest way to brew a quick cup in a fully exhausted state is popping a pod into a Keurig. With their MINI Plus Brewer in thirteen pretty new colors— it makes the perfect Mother's Day gift.
Even more perfect? Pairing that Keurig with a Mommy Shorts mug. Then drink up and partake in a little baby mugging. Other great gift pairings are a crocheted Mom sleeve for your to-go cup, or a Pantone creamer and sugar bowl to match your brightly colored new brewer.
Special Offer: Keurig is giving 20% off any Keurig Elite or Keurig MINI Plus Brewer plus free standard shipping if you use the code “MOMMYSHORTS” in the “Promotions and Coupons” box upon check out. Offer valid for the next 72 hours.
If you’re heading back to the office after maternity leave, you should drop some serious hints to get the amazing Lily Jade Caroline Bag (currently on sale)— a gorgeous leather bag large enough for your laptop that masquerades as a diaper bag on the weekend. It's got a canvas bag with numerous pockets to organize all your baby essentials that you can easily remove when leaving the baby at home.
Other great options for working moms are commute-friendly Tieks (a pair of flats that bend and squash to fit into your purse), Square Hue (a monthly nail polish subscription box), and a stylish wood watch from Jord to keep you on your pumping schedule.
Mike bought me the 14K gold Helen Ficora necklace (top left) for my push present when I was pregnant with Mazzy. It had a single charm that said "love" on it. Then he bought the "M" charm (for Mazzy) on my first Mother's Day and added the "H" on the Mother's Day after Harlow was born. See? It's not just a Mother's Day Gift for this year, it's an easy out for the next three!
Other great personalized pieces (aka Mom Jewelry) are stackable rings embossed with your kid’s names, a necklace stamped with your child’s artwork, or a gold birch cuff engraved with your kid’s initials.
All sentimental, but definitely not homemade.
I bet you didn't know you wanted a Xyron Creative Station, but trust me you do. It's the secret to creating some pretty impressive crafting projects— really easily. Not only can the Xyron help you create stickers, labels, photo magnets, and laminated recipe cards… you can also make an old sticker sticky again. If your daughter is anything like mine, this will make you feel like a superhero. For an option you can stick in your drawer, try Xyron's popular X-shaped 1.5" Create-A-Sticker.
Other great gifts for creative moms are the Carve-a-Stamp kit, a vintage box of rubber alphabet stamps and a Learn to Knit Kit from Purl Soho.
For anyone who has ordered flowers online, you know the selection can be a little sparse and you rarely get what you were expecting. The Bouqs Company is a great new service that delivers quality flowers (read: they won’t die after two days) with bouquets that arrive in a bunch, minus the cheesy arrangement.
This gives gift-givers the opportunity to get creative and pair flowers with a new vase that says you really know your mom's/wife's/girlfriend's style— colorful, whimsical, modern, or understated.
Special Offer: Use code "MOMMYSHORTS" to get 15% off your order and free shipping on TheBouqs.com.
If a box of chocolates sounds way too expected, don't worry— I found just the gift for you. It's this awesomely dangerous subscription service called Cookies Every Night that sends you at least 30 delicious cookies a month (excuse me while I salivate).
If you are buying a gift for a mom who is ambitious enough to make their own sweets, try this super fun baking stencil, some fancy gold cupcake cups or a hot pink mini pie maker (who knew you could live without one of those?).
Most moms take a million pictures of their kids and rarely make an appearance in their own photos. That's sad, because when those kids look back at their photos years later, it will seem like mom wasn't even there.
Enter the Pocket Xshot (aka the selfie stick) which makes it super easy to get the whole family in your shot without messing around with a timer. You can pull back far enough to get a little background in your photo (look! it's us in front of the Grand Canyon!) instead of a regular selfie which just gives you a close-up of everybody's nostrils. Plus, it collaspes easily in your purse.
If you want to pair the XShot with something fun for the photo-obsessed mom, I recommend a Casetagram phone cover, a gift certificate to Dry Bar (might as well look fantastic in your selfie) and a pretty Chevron frame to display your photo after it's complete.
Special Offer: Use coupon code "MSXSHOT" for free shipping and a free universal phone holder with the purchase of any XShot Camera Extender.
What's that? You want a high quality camera to go with your selfie stick? Because you're tired of your fuzzy iPhone photos? For moms of toddlers, I recommend the practically indestructible Olympus TG-850.
How do I know it's tough? It says “tough” right there on the actual camera. The Olympus TG-850 is shockproof, waterproof, dustproof, crushproof and freeze proof. You know, just in case your little devil takes your new camera for a dip in the toilet and then throws it in the freezer (hey, it happens). It also has pro-quality video and a 180 degree flip LCD.
Looking for other indestructible items because you feel like moms can't have nice things? Try a teething necklace by Chewbeads, a Case Logic camera case and an iBallz shock absorbing iPad holder.
Take it from a mom of two— a perfect mother's day gift is some quality alone time at the spa (aka my bathtub, sans children). Aqua Spa Bath & Body products help you forget about your screaming children while also looking a lot prettier in your bathroom than a tube of Elmo toothpaste. Their bath salts promise to “revitalize tired muscles" with a "gently foaming, restorative bath soak salt treatment”. That sounds much better than a half-assed massage from my husband.
To continue the at-home-spa theme, try a bath caddy to hold Mom's glass of wine, a Chill Pill candle for a little aromatherapy action, and a book written by a bunch of my blogging friends called "I Just Want to Be Alone".
Special Offer: Mommy Shorts readers get $1 off any Aqua Spa product. Coupon can be found here.
If the mother in your life likes to entertain, Little Miss Party fits everything you need for a small cocktail party amongst mom friends into one big box. FYI- Cocktail time is my favorite time of day.
Little Miss Party carefully selects party products along with menu suggestions and helpful party tips. Some of the items you'll find in their special Mother's Day "Uncork and Unwind" Party in a Box include french cocktail plates, linen napkins, a Brooklyn Slate cheese board, Riedel stemware, and a three month wine subscription.
For pricing and more details on Limited Edition boxes for Mother’s Day, email: lmpinabox@littlemisspartyplanner.com.
Last but not least, the gift that keeps on giving: your passive aggressive mother, and her passive aggressive gifts. Yes mom, I get it, I need to call you—thanks for the phone case that you said was “so funny HAHA!”. Maybe next year you should get me this pillow— I'm sure it would look fantastic in my living room. Or these slippers that “just happen to dust while you walk”. And yeah, I know Cooking for Dummies “actually has some good recipes”.
I'm guessing these gifts would also be appropriate coming from your mother-in-law. Any mother-in-laws reading? You guys are hilarious too.
GIVEAWAY TIME!
I'm picking ONE WINNER to take home practically my entire gift guide. Yes, ONE WINNER. That lucky duck will take home eight different awesome prizes:
• Voucher for three monthly deliveries of an Original Bouqs size flower bouquet from their Volcano Collection
• Olympus TG-850
• "Uncork and Unwind" Mother's Day Party in a Box customized by Little Miss Party (value $350)
• Pocket XShot
• Keurig Mini Plus Brewer in color of your choice
• Lily Jade Caroline Diaper Bag
• Xyron 1.5" Sticker Maker
• Selection of Bath & Body products from Aqua Spa
GIVEAWAY RULES
1) To enter, you must follow Mommy Shorts on facebook, "like" and/or "share" this post and then answer the following question in the comment section below:
What was the best gift you've ever received and who was it from?
2) For a second entry, subscribe to Mommy Shorts and leave an additional comment below saying you did so.
3) For a third entry, follow Mommy Shorts on Pinterest, repin any graphic from this post and leave an additional comment below saying you did so.
4) For a fourth entry, follow Mommy Shorts on Twitter and retweet the following:
I just entered a huge #MothersDay gift guide giveaway via @mommyshorts for over $1000 worth of prizes! http://bit.ly/1fr20qr
Winner will be announced on May 9th.
GOOD LUCK!!!!
———————————
UPDATE: Congratulations to Riara! Her best gift ever (up until now, of course) was "a trip to England to stay with my grandma, from my parents, in the third grade". Happy Mother's Day, Riara! Please email hannah@mommyshorts.com to claim your prize.
The contest is now closed.
I liked and shared 🙂
What was the best gift you’ve ever received and who was it from?
The first Christmas my husband and I were together (pre-marriage), he got me this tiny, dainty ring from Zales. He was crazy embarrassed about it because he was between jobs and couldn’t spend much, and he actually apologized as he gave it to me. It is still my absolute favorite piece of jewelry, and I wear it every day.
I also subscribed!
Liked on FB
I also subscribe to your blog via feedly
And pinned
Whoops, forgot my best gift. Um, Napa wine tasting weekend from my then boyfriend now husband.
Thank you Parents magazine for introducing me to Mommyshorts. Subscribed so I don’t miss a thing! Best gift….all three of my babies!
Subscribed to Mommy Shorts 🙂
Best Mother’s Day gift I received was a 5 x 7 rendering of a jungle, drawn by my 5 year old son. He and I holding hands, traipsing through it together!
PS. Already a follower on FB and I liked the post 🙂
Following on Pinterest and pinned a graphic 🙂 Such great boards! YAY!
The BEST GIFT I ever received was from my (now) husband, and it was a remote car starter. It was perfect b/c I was living in a city apartment, and in the cold MN winters, you really don’t want to go outside more than you need to!
I can’t imagine how I survived before I subscribed to your newsletter! (ie I DO! 🙂 )
Pinned!!
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/100275529178177627/
I retweeted too! YAY!! @the1wthelaugh
My (at the time) boyfriend’s sister and mom gave me a beautiful quilt for Christmas. Maybe this is gross, but I think it was a hint to get bizz-ay and have a family. Well, they had to wait another 10 years or so before we got married and delved into the land of parenting, but it worked! I love that quilt, I just wish I could cuddle under it a a little longer on the weekends, but the toddlers just won’t have it!
What was the best gift you’ve ever received and who was it from?
Besides my wedding ring…I got a computer from my husband (then boyfriend) that he worked with friends and family to afford and surprise me with.
Subscribed!
Pinned!
Tweeted!
The best gift I’ve ever received is my fitbit. At first I thought my husband was trying to tell me I was fat, but I have used this thing every day for the last 2 years and since I’m always trying to beat him in the number of steps taken per day I have actually gotten in better shape.
I re-tweeted, and followed/liked on fb. And I subscribe to Mommy Shorts through Feedly, does that count? 🙂
I also followed and pinned something of yours on pinterest.
Best gift I ever received was a Valentine’s Day gift from my dude – A 2 hour spa package with a massage and facial! It was awesome.
Subscribed!
Followed and Pinned!
The best gift I have ever received for Mother’s Day was given to me from God…twice on the same day 11 years apart. My daughter, Gwendolyn, was born on July 31, 1998. She was born with a 1 in 8 million rar5e genetic mutation of a disease called H.H.T.. She had many complications and hospital stays. I was very close to losing her in April of 1999. I prayed and prayed for her to get better again. On my very first Mother’s Day, May 9th 1999, I sat next to her hospital crib holding her fragile hand…the Doctor came and happily announced her cell count had risen, her fever broken and blood oxygen levels had risen. She began to rebound and it was a glorious day! She still had many hurdles to overcome and still does, but she’s almost 16 and lives her life!
11 years later on May 7, 2010 I had an emergency c-section with my second child, Broderick. I was to be induced due to Preeclampsia complications and on the 6th started the process with cervix softening pills. Around 5:30 am they began losing his heart beat and my oxygen levels and blood pressure began to slip. We were rushed down to the O.R. and he was out of me by 5:50 am. His cord was wrapped around his body twice and his neck once. He barely made it. I was told he was then rushed to the NINU. I was rushed in surgery. On Mother’s Day, May 9 2010, I got the all clear on myself and on Broderick. My daughter got to meet her brother for the first time and hold him, I got a Mother’s Day photo with my two beautiful children and God once again provided safe haven to my children.
Now, I have a third little one, Connolly, and my family is complete…Mother’s Day’s will always hold a special place in my heart. To be able to hug the one’s who call me Mom is gift enough for me.
Subscribed!
Pinned & Following!
I think my favorite gift that I’ve received might be my wedding bouquet. My husband and I were very nearly eloping, much to my mother’s disappointment. But in the end she finally came around, and insisted on buying me an absolutely beautiful wedding bouquet – all white with roses, peonies, and freesia. It smelled incredible, and I think it was the nicest thing I had at my wedding (outside of the groom, and also my mom, of course).
subscribed!
pinned!
tweeted!
My favorite present was from my husband for Christmas this past year. He took the kids to get pictures taken of the three of them while I was away one weekend. He have me a beautiful 16×20 canvas wrap of he photographs. I love photos and my husband knows it. It was such a wonderful surprise.
I also tweeted and pinned.
The best gift I ever received was a music video my husband made with our daughters singing Sugarland’s Your Baby Firl.
Pinned 🙂
The best gift I ever received was my kindle paperwhite from my husband. I know it’s kinda materialistic but I have gotten so much joy out of that present I can’t even express it.
The best gift ever was my little brother, who was born just in time for Christmas one year!
https://twitter.com/KissesForUsAll/status/463247947392483328 Tweeted
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/4996249561812746/
Followed and pinned
Subscribed!
Best gift – i love my pandora charm bracelet and its a gift my husband can keep giving to!
Pinned!
Subscribed to Mommy Shorts!
Probably a necklace from my dad. He doesn’t buy gifts, let alone very thoughtful, expensive ones. We were all blown away, no one had any idea he went out on his own and got jewelry. I’m not close to him, he didn’t even acknowledge my birthday this year, so a gift at all is pretty special, let alone one he nailed.
And I subscribed!
The best gift I have received is a painting from my sister in law for the baby’s room. I loved the personal touch 🙂
Pinned on Pinterest http://www.pinterest.com/cpereira2489/all-things-baby/
Best gift was time to myself and then time with my babies in the afternoon for dinner.
Subscribed!
Pinned!! http://pinterest.com/pin/21392166954527577/
Tweeted @neishiapreston
The best gift I have ever received is a handmade Christmas ornament that my daughter made me when she was 3. It was the best gift ever because I waited 35 years to finally have that moment in my life. I have never been so happy to receive a piece of clay with glitter on it and the tiniest hand print.
FB: Liked and Shared
Pinterest: Following all boards
Subscribed: Done and verified
Twitter: Following and RT’d!
Now, I cross my fingers & say a little prayer!
The best gift I’ve ever received is when I found out I was pregnant with my daughter around my birthday, after 6 years of trying I finally got to be a mom.
There are so many to choose from! My life is a gift 🙂 I feel blessed to be living it and every day is a surprise!
Pinned! http://www.pinterest.com/pin/71846556530069062/
Subscribed!
And pinned!
First Entry: I liked mommy shorts on facebook, I shared the post and my favorite Mother’s Day present has been balloons and flowers with a Mother’s Day card from my 2 and 4 year olds 🙂
Twittered! @karly_santiago
Second entry: I subscribed to mommy shorts
Third entry: I followed mommy shirts on Pinterest and repinned 4 graphics from this post
Best gift I ever received was from my mother. She gifted me a weekend at the Post Ranch Inn as a happy 1st year of marriage gift! It was amazing – I’ll never forget it!
Fourth Entry: I followed mommy shorts on twitter and tweeted: “I just entered a huge #MothersDay gift guide giveaway via @mommyshorts for over $1000 worth of prizes! http://bit.ly/1fr20qr“
Pinterest
I meant mommy shorts***
My best mother’s day gift was the first gift my daugther made me. She was old enough to make cards/gifts and it was just the best feeling in the world.
Hmm, best gift ever.. well, when my husband and I were first dating and I started spending a lot more time at his place, he got me a 3 year subscription to Cosmo magazine that was delivered to his house each month. Not the most extravagant gift, but it was so cute and thoughtful!
Best gift, after we moved to USA from Argentina, I got a Spa day for my birthday!!!
I’m subscribed to everything and tweeted
Pinned an image!
2 years ago on Mother’s Day, my 2nd like guy (who is a decade younger than his older brother) arrived a week early! Definitely my best “present” 🙂
Subscribed!
The best gifti ever received was a picture of my girls with their handprints all over it. I just love anything that they (with help) make for me, makes it that more valuable to me 🙂
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/209487820141596206/
The best gift I ever received on Mother’s Dat was a cookbook from my mom when I became a mom. She took all of her recipes, copied them and then organized them for me in a huge binder. I use it all the time. It was so wonderful!
I just signed up for your blog!
Best gift was my paramedic license on my 30th birthday. I had never worked for something so hard in my life!
Love all these products! One of my favorites is the Lily Jade diaper bag. This would be amazing to win! Love being a Mama!!
Subscribed!
Following you on Pinterest!! And repinned a pin!! Thanks!
Liked on facebook!
What was the best gift you’ve ever received and who was it from?
An iPad from my husband and kids two years ago – we can facetime now when I travel for business and I get to see my girls!
I tweeted!
Best gift so far was a beautifully hand painted flower pot holder from my 2 year old
FB: Liked & Shared
Pinterest: Following and repined
Already a Subscriber
Twitter: Following and Rt’d
Subscribed to email updates!
Liked on Facebook, subscribed, commented & shared 🙂
And now repinned on Pinterest
The best gift I have ever received was a trip to Europe!
Subscribed!
followed and repinned on pinterest!
I am already on your subscriber list, =), shared this post on FB, share a lot of your posts on FB, and I am digging your Little Miss Party idea! This mama loves her play dates!
Best gift I ever received…. I know I should say the second daughter I’m due with who was conceived on Christmas. But I’m going to have to go with the trip to Hawai’i from my then-fiance. He’d been deployed for seven months, during which we agreed over email to get married and I’d planned our entire wedding, and flew me to meet his ship in Hawai’i. We spent three wonderful days together on the island of Oahu where he ‘proposed’ before coming home and tying the knot.
Pinterest, yes! Now I follow you there too!
The best gift I’ve ever received was my son 🙂
Subscribed, pinned, and shared on Facebook 🙂
Too bad I don’t tweet, ’cause this is the sweetest contest.
Best gift ever? Well… right now since I am sleep deprived, I will say the hammock that my husband and kids got me last year for mother’s day.
Best gift ever on mom’s day? Well, wish I had some great story to tell, like a ocean cruise, or some really neat gadget I received. But, my mama’s days are pretty basic, and that is OK, too. I have four kids who wake up early that morning and whip together some yummy breakfast for me. Then husband says, “Go buy yourself something.” Ya, that pretty much sums it up.
Now subcribed. And its super cliche but the best gift ever was my son, i am not able to get pregnant and we got him in March of 2012 when he was 3 months old, a few months before Mother’s day. My first mother’s day was the best because I had him to complete it.
I just followed on Pinterest and repinned a graphic!
Hi there!! Love the gifts and am currently expecting my second baby. I could definitely use these ;). Shared this entry.
The best gift I ever received was on Christmas Eve this past year. My family celebrates and has a huge dinner on Christmas Eve. When I was handing out the gifts to my family, I noticed an extra gift at the bottom of the bag, made out to me! When opened, It was a wonderful jewelry box. When I opened the jewelry box, on one drawer was a note that said open me. Inside, was a ring with another note that asked “will you marry me?”. I immediately bawled my eyes out, but of course I said yes. 🙂