Mother's Day Gift Ideas

The holidays just keep creeping up without much warning ... except they happen the same time every year. Mother's Day is just a few weeks away. Here's a few ideas to get the ball rolling. Every mom is different, so this list will hopefully get you thinking of a variety of ideas for the special mom, mother-in-law, wife, sister, grandma, et cetera in your life.

THE TRADITIONAL MOM
1. FLOWERS. I used to work as a florist, so I truly appreciate a beautiful arrangement of fresh flowers or a green plant. Having the extra bit of color in the house really does lift your spirits! Support your local florist and look at their options online, or even better, go to the shop (it smells amazing)! Most floral shops are mom and pop businesses.

2. PHOTOS. Do you have photos of your mom when she was growing up? What about family photos of her with all of her children, or grand kids? A fun idea would be to have everyone write a favorite memory of/with her then organize it into a book and put it next to a photo of that person with Mom or Grandma. Check out +Shutterfly for scrapbook ideas or other photo gifts.

THE TECH MOM
3. PHONE CASE. I became envious of a friend's adorable Kate Spade wristlet iPhone case. It had a cute pattern, room for a credit card, I.D., and space for cash. Plus, she didn't need to carry a purse. Everything she needed could be held in the wristlet. The price tag: $70. Ouch. I was on a mission to find something comparable and I did -- for $7.95! I'm sold on this case. The functionality can't be beat. It has an opening in the back for your camera and is available in five colors with fun patterns on the inside. I rarely carry my purse anymore. 

4. TILE. Dubbed as "The world's largest lost and found,"  Tile is great for moms who lose things -- keys, purses, laptop, bike, etc. Put the tile on your belonging(s) and locate it easily with the app. It's a GPS for finding your stuff. Pretty cool technology.

THE FEMININE MOM
5. PURFUME. Scent is nice every now and then, and can be a little pick-me-up. I really like Miss Dior and Clinique Happy, but scent is a personal thing. A little research might be required to find out what your little lady will like best.

6. JEWELRY. A bracelet is a simple way to dress up an outfit. I would personally love a tennis bracelet, but this Vince Camuto link bracelet is lovely, too. (Side note: I have a pair of Vince Camuto heels and dress pants and am totally pleased with the quality and style).

THE FITNESS MOM

7. FITBIT. It's a calorie management system that uses an online program to manage what you consume and burn. There are lots of products out on the market so make sure you do your research ... Fitbit, BodyBugg, Body Media, Nike+, OVERLOAD. If she's into fitness, she'll probably be into this. 

8. WORKOUT PANTS. This is a recent purchase of mine and I'm quite enjoying it. These +Under Armour workout capris pants are the perfect length and great for yoga, runs, or lounging. Check with your lady on cut preference and size.

THE UNIQUE MOM
9. HOT AIR BALLOON RIDE. Is your mom a little adventurous? Does she like to try new, fun things? A hot air balloon expedition might just be the ticket. Here in Phoenix you can find these deals on Groupon every now and then. Sounds fun, right?!

10. HORSEBACK RIDING. Again, if she's an outdoorsy kind of gal, this might be right up her alley. Maybe just a short one-day excursion, or perhaps lessons. Do a little research and see who offers this in your area.