By Samantha Schoech and Mari Uyehara
Your mom has been around for a lot: your first steps, school and career struggles, and relationship rollercoasters. Whether she’s your biological, chosen, or work mom, she’s given you invaluable guidance and support, and she’s more than deserving of a well-considered token of appreciation. Whatever your relationship or occasion for celebrating her, we’ve chosen thoughtful gifts that are surprising, beautiful, and sure to delight—not a vacuum cleaner among them.
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SKIP ADVERTISEMENTA designer shopping bag
Convenient to carry, this designer version of one of our favorite reusable totes is surprisingly durable, and it can hold up to 50 pounds. You can wipe it clean or throw it in the wash after unloading your groceries, and it packs down into a tiny carrying case.
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Your mom may already have a bazillion Target bags and other reusable totes clogging up her car trunk. But this special-edition Baggu for Mara Hoffman bag is colorfully patterned with a mix of flowers and leaves, and it will make any shopping trip more stylish. A big Wirecutter favorite, the 25-by-15-by-6-inch Baggu bag is washable and wipeable, and it can hold up to 50 pounds. The light nylon bag also neatly packs down into a 5-by-5-inch pouch, making it easy for her to tuck inside a carryall (or keep that trunk much tidier).
A distinctive tree
Get fresh lemons from this pest-resistant mail-order tree, which can grow indoors or outdoors in warmer climates.
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This elegant olive tree is easy to care for—it just needs plenty of sunshine and a light weekly watering. With long, silvery-green leaves, it looks like a set piece for a design magazine.
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Forget snake plants and carnation bouquets. Mom is deserving of more sophisticated flora. The pest-resistant Fast Growing Trees Meyer Lemon Tree produces sweet-smelling blossoms and fruit, whether she grows it indoors in a planter or outdoors (depending on her plant hardiness zone). Due to agricultural restrictions on shipping citrus, the tree is not available for shipment to eight states, including California, Florida, and Texas. We also love the Fast Growing Trees Koroneiki Greek Olive for its lovely, long leaves and dignified silhouette. And it ships to almost every state.
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SKIP ADVERTISEMENTUncommon pearls
Available in four muted colors, this hand-strung bracelet features tiny cultured pearls and a 14-karat yellow gold closure.
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These aren’t your mother’s pearls (those boring, bulbous, and ubiquitous orbs of yore), but they would look great on her wrist. Hand-strung with the teensy cultured gems, the delicate Mociun Seed Pearl Bracelet—made by one of Brooklyn’s coolest jewelers—looks decidedly modern. The bracelet comes in two lengths (6¼ or 7 inches) attached with a 14k-karat red peacock.
Upgraded Nutella
Made with fruity extra-virgin olive oil, high-quality cocoa, and roasted Italian hazelnuts, this velvety spread is delicious on pastries and ice cream, or by the dollop.
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There are plenty of upscale Nutella imitators, but the delectable Il Colle del Gusto Granellona Crunchy Chocolate Hazelnut Spread is a true standout. With 42% hazelnut content, the glossy spread is made with roasted Italian nuts, vanilla, and earthy cocoa (which delivers a deep, complex chocolate flavor). The wild-card ingredient is extra-virgin olive oil, which lends a subtle fruitiness to the nutty chocolate mix. Your mom can spread it on biscotti, bananas, or baguette slices. Gifts writer Mari Uyehara shamelessly eats it with a spoon straight out of the jar—a convenience any mom might appreciate.
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SKIP ADVERTISEMENTColorful clogs
Available in 13 bright colors, these Italian rubber clogs were originally made for medical workers. Comfortable, durable, and stylish, they are now favored by surgeons and fashionistas alike.
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Popular with hospital and restaurant workers for long shifts, the Calzuro Classic Clogs have inner sole bumps (to aid circulation) and anti-slip, ridged bottoms. These shoes are also a fashionable favorite among urban dwellers, for their fantastic colors, like lipstick red, royal blue, and a bright teal. Constructed with a rubber compound that can withstand an autoclave (a sterilizing steam machine), the clogs are both machine-washable (up to 194 ℉) and dishwasher-safe (if that doesn’t skeeve out your mom). They also come in a version with ventilating holes on top. These clogs are, however, known to run small, so try ordering a size up to start.
Subtle birthstones
This delicate necklace features teensy, 3-millimeter birthstone pendants, including citrine and amethyst.
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Celebrate your mom’s birthday (or those of her children) with the GLDN Aura Pendant Necklace. The necklace includes one tiny, 3-millimeter pendant in her choice of 13 stones, such as rubies, sage peridots, and midnight sapphires. You can add more birthstone pendants, for a slight additional cost, now or later as her family grows. The necklace is available in two different lengths (or a custom size) and sterling silver or gold vermeil. If you want to spring for solid gold, GLDN offers a 10-karat option, and there are also solo birthstone pendants, if your mom already has a favored gold chain. If she’d be more inclined toward initials, we also love the similar GLDN Personalized Lor Necklace, which sports petite, 9-millimeter discs, available in your choice of characters in different fonts.
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SKIP ADVERTISEMENTExquisite storage
This Italian-made jewelry box, crafted from alabaster, has two swiveling compartments and unique mottled coloring.
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The beautiful, little Alabaster Swivel Box, which measures just 4.75 inches wide, has two swiveling compartments for sundry trinkets. Mom could use it for stylishly storing safety pins, loose change, or extra keys on a desk or side table. Or she could use it as an accent piece for a few special pieces of jewelry on her dresser. As aesthetically pleasing as it is practical, the Italian-made box’s soft mineral rock features unique veining and eye-catching mottling.
A cool robe
This marshmallow-esque robe is made with two kinds of premium cotton. It’s extraordinarily soft, warm, and chic, but it’s pricey.
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Giving Mom a robe is usually a frumpy and thoughtless cliché—as immortalized on the Saturday Night Live “Christmas Morning” sketch. Not so with the Offhours Homecoat. Its absurd price aside, the quilted, machine-washable robe is more of a statement piece, even if she’ll only ever wear it indoors. It’s warm and super soft, and it features premium cotton. There are 10 different styles (some two- or three-toned), all with a smartly designed belt that loops from the interior of the left side to the exterior of the right side. She surely won’t feel like an afterthought when wrapped up in this swank housecoat.
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SKIP ADVERTISEMENTEverlasting rose
Offering a lovely freeze-frame of nature, this 1.6-inch acrylic cube holds a real red rose at its center.
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May be out of stock
Even if your mother isn’t a naturalist, the Rose Sola Cube, made by Japanese botanical company Usagi no Nedoko, offers a compelling view of nature. In clear acrylic resin, the 1.6-inch cube suspends a peak-bloom, deep-red-petaled flower as if floating in light. Each cube contains a unique specimen, and there are also other Sola Cube options, like an airy white dandelion puff, a sweet pink straw flower, and a sun-yellow immortelle. Mom can display the floral beauty on a side table, desk, or bookshelf—with no dead bouquets to wrangle into the trash or swampy vases to clean a week later.
A luxe shower
Boasting an intoxicatingly refreshing scent, this body wash leaves skin softly cleansed and silky-smooth yet not dry.
Nécessaire’s The Body Wash is so fancy, it has an accent in its name, along with an extremely chic bottle. The gentle gel cleanser makes for a hydrating, non-stripping rinse, purportedly due to its niacinamide content, along with vitamins C and E, and cacay, marula, and meadowfoam oils. As opposed to most bar soaps, which have pHs so high that they disrupt the skin’s natural barrier, this body wash also has a more skin-like pH between 5.5 and 6.5. You can choose from bergamot, sandalwood, or eucalyptus scents, or go fragrance-free if your mom is on the sensitive side. And its refills come in double-sized metal bottles.
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SKIP ADVERTISEMENTA produce candle
This fun-loving, molded candle is hand-poured with natural soy wax, and it smells like tomato leaves.
Made with essential oils to smell like tomato leaves, the 2.25-by-3.25-by-3-inch Scandles Heirloom Tomato Candle is a dead ringer for the farmer’s market table. It’s made by pouring 100% natural soy wax and then molding by hand, so there are natural variations between each one. One safety note: These candles are meant to be decorative and, like any candles that come sans containers, should be placed on a heatproof dish when lighting.
Sleeping beauty
This pillowcase, made from the highest-grade mulberry silk, is lustrous and weighty right out of the box.
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Silk pillowcases absorb less product from your skin and create less friction than their cotton counterparts, so they are a favorite item of beauty-conscious sleepers. Moms who live in dry climates and those with curly locks may particularly appreciate what a smoother night’s sleep can do for their skin and hair. Our top choice for the category is the Lilysilk 25 Momme Oxford Envelope Luxury Pillowcase. It’s made with 6A mulberry silk, the highest grade, and has a luxurious 750 thread count. The instructions suggest hand-laundering only, and senior editor Jen Hunter has had great success regularly washing her pillowcase with Soak detergent.
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SKIP ADVERTISEMENTClassic Cali vase
Available in four solid colors and two patterns, this petite vase makes a bright addition to a nightstand or windowsill.
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The Heath Ceramics Bud Vase is a timeless classic, designed in the 1980s by Edith Heath, the late, legendary American studio potter who co-founded Heath Ceramics with her husband, Brian. Choose from two patterns and four solid colors, including a lavender-hued pink and an indigo blue. At 3¾ inches tall, the vase may seem slight for the price, but moms with an eye for artisanal beauty will appreciate that it can spark joy in any small corner, with or without a few blooms.
Hair apparent
Handmade in Italy from ivory-toned resin, this chic, wide-toothed comb works both for detangling and for styling.
Big-ticket luxuries (a fancy dinner, sparkly jewelry) are splashy. Yet everyday ones (good tea, a plush robe) might do more to tilt the proverbial quality-of-life scale. Case in point: If your dear mother is still wielding an old drugstore comb after showering, you can do her the favor of introducing the wide-toothed and durable Yves Durif Comb. Handmade in Italy from cream-hued resin, this elegant comb is anti-static, and it works to detangle and style all hair types. With architecturally tapered teeth, it is a pleasure to hold and behold.
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SKIP ADVERTISEMENTBy and of women
Encompassing over a century of photography, this coffee-table book explores expansive ideas of womanhood.
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Our Selves: Photographs by Women Artists is the companion book to the groundbreaking 2022 Museum of Modern Art exhibition, and it includes over a century of photography, ranging in forms from advertising to social documentary. With striking images captured by iconic as well as lesser-known artists, this collection explores how photography is used in socio-political movements, such as queer liberation and civil rights. Interspersed with 13 thought-provoking essays, the silver tome may also spark conversations around the coffee table, instead of simply sitting on it.
Cozy cashmere
Our pick
Our favorite cashmere sweater is both luxuriously soft and shockingly affordable. It comes in seven sizes and over a dozen colors.
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As comfortable as a robe but with a bit more sartorial flair, Naadam’s The Original Cashmere Sweater makes a gorgeous gift. During our testing, we were happy to discover that this sweater felt luxuriously soft—despite its reasonable price. It comes in a bunch of colors and a wide range of sizes, so it can work for postpartum mothers and empty nesters alike. If you have a little more to spend, and you want to really wow her, the Naadam Cashmere Duster Cardigan feels like a wearable blanket yet looks like an elegant cape.
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SKIP ADVERTISEMENTA scarf of all trades
This enormous cotton scarf can work as a drapey statement piece or an impromptu picnic blanket, sunshade, or nursing cover. It’s handmade, so order ahead.
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The Scarf Shop Cotton Giant Scarf measures 54 by 108 inches—larger than a twin mattress! So it can act as a statement piece/neck warmer or, when called upon, a picnic blanket, a sunshade, a nursing cover, or even an emergency towel. These gauzy cotton scarves are extremely soft and come in a ton of hand-dyed colors. And, most importantly, they’re machine-washable. But you should note that because they’re handmade, shipping can take a few weeks.
A cotton kaftan
Don’t let the chaotic Etsy page deter you. This lightweight kaftan—with its generous cut and wide range of prints and colors—suits almost every body type and style preference.
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If your mom has even a glimmer of Stevie Nicks energy, she’ll love sashaying around in Silkandmore’s Cotton Kaftan—the boho answer to the house dress. This breezy, one-size-fits-most kaftan’s construction is relatively simple: a rectangle of fabric with a reinforced V-neck, interior drawstring waist, kimono-like sleeves, and subtle side slits. It’s handmade in India of mulmul cotton (a fine, flowy fabric that gets softer with washing). Staff writer Samantha Schoech said she finds the longer, ankle-length kaftan more versatile, but there’s also a knee-length version. She wears hers as a beach cover-up, a nightgown, and even a sundress (she owns three, so one is always laundered and ready to wear).
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SKIP ADVERTISEMENTFlowery feet
These soft, ribbed bamboo socks are pigmented with flower-based dyes. Each pair is unique, but the colors do fade slightly in the wash.
Remember ironing botanicals between two sheets of wax paper and giving the finished product to your mom? Adb Botanical Color’s Flower Power Bamboo Socks—which are dyed by hand using pigments from plants like cosmos, marigolds, and red rice—are the grown-up version of that childhood gift. Each super-soft pair is slightly different, and they’re all as vibrant as wildflower fields. They come with hand-washing instructions, but our tester threw them in the machine, and though they did fade a little, they were no worse for wear.
Good hair days
This 5.5-inch sturdy metal pin comes in nearly a dozen shades. And it holds most hair lengths and textures more securely and elegantly than a traditional elastic (but the technique takes practice).
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Give the gift of good hair days in a few seconds flat with this excellent accessory. The Day Rate Beauty Petite Power Pin comes in nearly a dozen sizes, and there are 11 colors to choose from, so they can blend in with or stand out against any hair color. Supervising editor Hannah Morrill reports that just one 5.5-inch pin (in prosecco) is enough to tame her thick, medium-length hair. She says the technique takes a little practice, but the end result is more elegant than her go-to “mom bun.”
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SKIP ADVERTISEMENTNotes of her own
This lovely and affordable hardback notebook can be customized with details like monogramming and cover colors.
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Whether the mom you adore is at work on her next masterpiece or just the parent tasked with keeping everyone’s schedule straight, she’ll likely appreciate a lovely and personal notebook. The Papier Notebook has a two-tone hardback cover, and you can choose the colors. It also includes 96 pages of lined, plain, or bullet-dotted paper to house her musings, keen observations, and grocery lists. You can monogram the front cover so everyone knows it’s hers. Or you could give it a boring label, like “Taxes,” so no one will bother to read it.
Botanical napkins
These four flour-sack napkins are lovely and absorbent. And they still look good after multiple washings in a machine.
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Cloth napkins can transform even the most mundane meal into a fancy-feeling affair. There’s one problem—most become marred with unsightly stains after just a few dinners. That’s why June & December’s Wild Pretties Napkins are such a find. They are preshrunk and machine-washable; it’s even safe to iron and bleach them, which supervising editor Hannah Morrill said she’s done without any fading. And each screen-printed flour-sack cotton napkin is reversible, with two illustrations (wild carrot and alfalfa, dandelion and clover sprig).
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SKIP ADVERTISEMENTA breezy nightgown
These affordable nightgowns are old-fashioned in all the best ways, with options for ribbons, pleats, embroidery, and buttons on a variety of flowy styles. Be warned: They’re a bit transparent, for a barely there feel.
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Depending on how deep in the mom trenches your recipient happens to be, her own sleepwear is likely the last thing on her mind. Change that up by giving her one of Heirloom Art Co.’s White Cotton Nightgowns. The flowy, Victorian-style offerings are just right for glamorously streaming Netflix after the kids go to bed. They’re perfect for waltzing around in the wee hours of the morning like a modern-day Jane Austen heroine. And they’re great under a cardigan when you need to hop in the car to do a school drop-off. These versatile gowns are sheer but not see-through, and they come in a number of lengths and sleeve options to suit your mom’s style.
Wake up and smell the coffee
Monthly or bimonthly, this coffee subscription delivers beans from around the world, working with a region’s farms to fine-tune the brews.
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We’ve tried countless great coffee subscriptions, but for the caffeine-craving mama with a global palate, your best bet is the Atlas Coffee Club. Each delivery hails from a different country, many of which are less-customary coffee destinations, such as India and Nicaragua. Atlas works directly with local farmers, so bean production can get creative; one recent project lauded by supervising editor Ben Keough used anaerobic fermentation to extract more-unusual flavors from an uncommon Indian coffee. You can choose whether to send a 12-ounce bag monthly or bimonthly, and each one arrives with a postcard featuring trivia about that country’s coffee industry. Your mom can choose her preferred roast and grind specifications.
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SKIP ADVERTISEMENTTunes to go
Our favorite portable speaker provides good sound and has a tough exoskeleton, and it’s small enough to take anywhere. Plus, it’s waterproof.
If your mom would prefer working out in the yard untethered by earbuds, or if she just needs a way to bring some jazz to a picnic, a portable Bluetooth speaker is the perfect gadget. Our favorite is the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3, which offers clear, full sound and is nearly unbreakable (it survived a 5-foot drop, no problem). And this model is small, so it’s easy to take on any journey. If that journey is just to the shower, this speaker is also waterproof.
The comfiest jammies
This polished set is one of our sleep team’s favorites. These PJs come with pants or shorts, with long or short sleeves, and in dozens of colors.
With all the comfort of an oversize tee but exuding a far cuter aesthetic, the Eberjey Gisele PJ Set was among our absolute favorites from testing. After wearing these jersey pajamas for over three years, our staff tester reports that they still fit properly and feel soft, showing only minimal wear. The set offers several mix-and-match options for the tops and bottoms (you can choose short sleeves or long, with either shorts or pants). And these PJs come in more than a dozen pretty colors to suit any mom on your list.
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SKIP ADVERTISEMENTNever-ending flowers
This is our pick for the best flower-delivery service, due its easy ordering and stylish bouquets. You can choose from three sizes, and the company reliably delivers anywhere in the US.
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The pleasure of receiving a bundle of blossoms is nearly unparalleled. We get a jolt of energy every time we walk through a room and see cut flowers in a vase. Rather than presenting Mom with just one bouquet, though, why not extend her delight for six months or even a year? UrbanStems, our pick for the best online flower-delivery service, offers subscriptions for classic, seasonal, or luxe arrangements that arrive weekly, twice monthly, or monthly. The first bouquet comes with a simple, clear glass vase.
Skin deep
This solid moisturizer bar smells great and promotes super-soft skin. It’s a little pricey, however.
Every mom deserves a luxurious self-care moment, and the Kate McLeod Daily Stone Solid Moisturizer will elevate your own mom’s game. The solid lotion “body stone” softens on contact with skin to dispense an elegant-smelling formula of cocoa butter with almond, apricot, avocado, and coconut oils. Supervising editor Daniela Gorny credits the set with keeping her skin soft, even in the California desert she calls home.
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SKIP ADVERTISEMENTSome like it hot
The heat source is built into the base of this favorite (but pricey) mug, so it stays warm even if you’re on the move. In true tech-era fashion, the temperature can be controlled via an app.
Many moms know the struggle of trying to finish a cup of coffee in one sitting. But yours shouldn’t have to settle for a lukewarm brew. Enter the Ember Mug 2. Of the mug warmers we tested, this model was the most portable because its heat source is battery-powered and built into the base, rather than being a plug-in hot plate. Mom can adjust the temperature of her java using the Ember app on her smartphone. The mug cannot go in the dishwasher, so make this an even better gift by routinely hand-washing it for her.
Classic reading
Nobel Prize–winning short-story author Alice Munro wrote only one novel—this slim, observant, witty story of a young girl growing up in rural Canada.
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If you’re the offspring of a literature-loving mom, give her the gift of reading (or rereading) Lives of Girls and Women, the only novel by Nobel Prize–winning short-story author Alice Munro. This is the semi-autobiographical story of Dell, a young girl growing up surrounded by women in rural Ontario in the 1940s. The era, characters, and setting are wonderfully and particularly rendered (Munro is a preternatural observer of human behavior). Yet the themes of growing up, sex, love, birth, and death—the things that make up the lives of girls and women—are timeless and universal.
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SKIP ADVERTISEMENTCozy slippers
These slippers are the most durable and supportive felted-wool slippers we tested. They’re warm, but they breathe well, so your mom’s feet won’t get sweaty.
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These felted-wool boots cover the ankles, so they’re a good choice for colder climates, yet they’re still easy to slip on.
The mom in your life deserves—nay, needs—a warm pair of slippers to travel around the house in style. Get her the lightweight, breathable Glerups Wool Slippers Open Heel, among the best we’ve ever tested. Made from just one piece of felt, they’re less prone to splitting or degradation than other felted-wool slippers. And they’re easy to slide on and off, so your mom won’t have to bend down. For the mom with consistently chilly ankles, Glerups also makes felted Wool Slipper Boots. Both are also available in rubber-soled versions, which can be worn inside and outside the house.
Never-ending photos
With a digital frame, a mom who lives far away can see new photos instantly. The Aura Carver stands out for its easy setup, vivid display, and pleasing design.
A digital photo frame can serve as a direct link between you and your mom, allowing you to send new photos right to her mantle, no matter how far away she lives. The Aura Carver, one of our favorite digital photo frames, is easy to set up, and it has a sharp, vivid display. Also, it works seamlessly on Android and iOS through a proprietary app. Simply upload your photos through the app (this makes Aura especially good for documenting Little League triumphs and other fleeting-but-important moments you’d like to share), and they’ll show up in the frame. One tip: After you get the frame, start contributing photos, so when your mom opens the package and powers up the Aura, the snaps will be ready and waiting.
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SKIP ADVERTISEMENTA (nearly) smoke-free fire
No fire pit is completely smoke-free. But with its signature airflow system, this stainless steel model comes pretty darn close.
For the mom who likes spending time in the backyard or on the patio, a portable fire pit will help extend her outdoors time well into the evening. One of our favorites is the Solo Stove Bonfire 2.0, which, when operated correctly, burns wood with almost no detectable smoke. The airflow created by the stove’s double-walled design intensifies the heat of the fire, so it’s more efficient and less smoky.
A rainbow maker
Suction this simple little machine to a sunny window, and the mini solar panel will spin the crystal, sending twinkling rainbows throughout the room.
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The Kikkerland Solar-Powered Rainbow Maker will add some magic to any space. Just suction it to a window, and when the sun hits the solar battery, the crystals will start to rotate, refracting sunlight around the room and transforming it into a rainbow wonderland. To see it in action, check out this video.
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SKIP ADVERTISEMENTA classic carryall
This unstructured, Italian leather tote can be cinched (to create a slimmer silhouette) or left open (to take full advantage of its generous capacity). But it has just one small pocket, so it isn’t the best bag for organization.
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For many moms, a handbag is less an accessory than a utilitarian carryall—used to tote everything they could possibly need in a day, including sunscreen, hair ties, a water bottle, and an emergency PB&J. This year, upgrade your own mom’s go-everywhere, do-everything bag to the Cuyana Classic Easy Tote, one of our favorite tote bags. This bag can hold a lot and still look chic. It has short and long handles, so your mom can clasp it by hand or swing it over her shoulder. And interior ties transform it into a bundled, bucket-style bag for days when she’s carrying less. Make it even more special by adding a monogram.
A bracelet with meaning
This simple custom bracelet features one to six small birthstones to signify special months or dates. Other options include silver or gold chains and fixed or adjustable lengths.
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Affordable and understated, Danique Jewelry’s Minimalistic Birthstones Bracelet features a dainty silver or gold chain, and it comes in several lengths to perfectly fit the recipient’s wrist. You can get the bracelet with just one gem (maybe her birthstone, or perhaps a stone in her favorite color) or several. If you don’t know your mom’s wrist size, you may be able to figure it out by measuring a bracelet or watch she already owns.
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SKIP ADVERTISEMENTA woven bicycle basket
This cheery bicycle basket is handwoven in Ghana. It has leather straps and is big enough to transport your mom’s takeout order.
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If the mom in your life loves to bike and routinely carries a purse, a baguette, and a blanket, consider getting her a bicycle basket. We particularly love the Baba Tree Large Bicycle Basket. Each one is handwoven in Ghana from locally sourced straws, so this gift is not only utilitarian but also beautiful and unique. And it’s a cinch to put on and take off: Two adjustable leather straps secure the basket to a bike’s handlebars.
A bevy of jelly
These distinctly flavored jams are nuanced and delicious, with a fresh, delicate consistency.
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Whether the mom in your life is a toast devotee or a baker who enjoys using scrumptious ingredients, chances are good she’ll love receiving a beautiful bundle of jams. The We Love Jam Gift Box includes a customizable assortment. And it’s one of our favorite gift-basket ideas, thanks to the high-quality jams and the pretty packaging. To make the gift even more special, include a card with a personal message during checkout.
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SKIP ADVERTISEMENTGorgeous glassware
Treats are even tastier when they’re served in handblown glass bowls. Amazingly, these seemingly delicate vessels are entirely dishwasher-safe (and they come in four colors, with our without stems).
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Facts are facts: Moms can never have too much “me time” … or too many small bowls. To elevate her yogurt from simple snack to refined dessert, give your mom these translucent, handblown IVV Italian Retro Gelato Bowls from Tuscany. The dishwasher-safe vessels are available in four colors, and you can choose either the flat or the (pricier) footed version. We think any mom will find these faceted treasures ideal for holding everything from nuts and olives to pistachios and gumdrops.
We love finding gifts that are unusual, thoughtful, and well vetted. See even more gift ideas we recommend.
Dorie Chevlen contributed reporting. This article was edited by Hannah Morrill and Jennifer Hunter.
Meet your guides
Samantha Schoech
Except for the time she gave a boyfriend her mother’s old toaster for Christmas, staff writer Samantha Schoech has a reputation as an excellent gift giver. She lives in San Francisco with two teens, two cats, a geriatric betta fish, and a bookseller husband. Her first book of short stories, My Mother’s Boyfriends, is coming out in 2024.
Mari Uyehara
Mari Uyehara is a staff writer for Wirecutter’s gifts team. She was previously an editor at GQ, Saveur, and Vice, and she won a 2019 James Beard Award for her column on American cooking in Taste. The daughter of a potter, she has long been a believer in the power of a well-made thing.
Mentioned above
- Baggu’s range of tote bags (including a reusable grocery bag that holds 50 pounds) are seemingly indestructible, very spacious, easy to clean, and even easier to carry.This Excellent Reusable Grocery Bag Fits in Your Pocket
- We tested 25 cashmere sweaters—ranging in price from $50 to $500—and came away with six favorites that suit a range of styles and budgets.The Best Men’s and Women’s Cashmere Sweaters
- The UE Wonderboom 3 is the all-around best portable Bluetooth speaker because it sounds good and looks cool, and it’s the most rugged model we’ve tested.The Best Portable Bluetooth Speaker
- Our favorite women’s, men’s, and unisex pajamas—available in a range of styles—are great for sleeping and comfy for lounging, and they make the perfect gift.The Best Pajamas
- Ordering flowers online can feel like a shot in the dark. Of the 14 we considered, a few standouts were consistently fresh, beautiful, and timely enough to recommend.The Best Online Flower Delivery Service
- If you rarely get to enjoy your coffee or tea before it gets cold, we can relate. Here are a few great ways to make sure every sip is a warm one.The 3 Mug Warmers We Love for Keeping Our Coffee (and Tea) Hot
Further reading
The 27 Best Mother’s Day Gifts
by Samantha Schoech
Your mom gave you life. Mother’s Day is your chance to shower her with love and gratitude with a gift that shows you see and appreciate her.
The 33 Best Gifts for Your Mother-in-Law
by Samantha Schoech
Want to leave a good impression? From the prettiest plants to the jammiest jam, we’ve rounded up our favorite gift ideas for your mother-in-law.
The 33 Best Last-Minute Mother’s Day Gifts
by Samantha Schoech and Mari Uyehara
Some people shop months in advance. Others shop days before. If you’re in the latter camp, we’ve got you—and your mom—covered.
The 30 Best Cheap Mother’s Day Gifts Under $50
by Samantha Schoech
Our favorite Mother’s Day gifts for every budget, from $15 to $25 to $50.
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