My own Mother’s Day gift guide

Mother’s Day is around the corner (10 days away, to be exact) so if you haven’t started making a plan for how to honor the most overworked and generally under-appreciated person in your household (sorry dads…) you’d better hop to it.

But lets be honest, we are all stretched too thin in this all-work-all-the-time world. And figuring out a mother’s day gift is probably not the number one item on your to-do list. (nor should reading this blog either, but I digress…)

So here are a few ideas to get you guys going. If I were your mother, I would be thrilled to get any one of these gifts.

I’ve separated them into categories, to make it easier…

HELP HER STAY IN SHAPE

Call up the studio where your mother practices yoga and hook her up with a five class card (or a 10 class or, what the hell, a monthly unlimited) There’s no way she won’t be thrilled. If I am your mother, you will go straight to Kula. But I understand if she’s into some other spot.

While we’re on the topic, any exercise is good, so, for example, if she spins at SoulCycle, hook her up there.

HELP HER STAY PRETTY

Your mom probably has a favorite line of beauty products, but it really should be Red Flower, which is my favorite. I go on and on about them in an earlier post. Feel free to read, become obsessed, and then order up lots of stuff for your mother and yourself.

Or maybe she just wants a little bling. In that case, head over to Jill Platner (in SoHo or online) and get her what will most certainly become her favorite piece of jewelry ever.

Then again, sometimes a new bag is all a girl needs. This pretend designer bag by Slow And Steady Wins The Race is cute (duh), lightweight (made of canvas), ironic without being snotty (a witty knock off of a super traditional Chanel bag) and hip (for all of the above reasons) while still being age appropriate for, well, anybody.

HELP HER RELAX

How about a membership in Teavana’s tea of the month club? Every month, you get a sample of some new delicious herbal tea that your mother is sure to become addicted to. I speak from personal experience, as this is one of the best gifts I have gotten in the past decade (hint, hint).

SOMETHING HANDMADE BY OTHERS

Etsy is always good for finding one of a kind and truly personal gifts. How about getting a family portrait in felt to remind mom just who it is, exactly, she is taking care of all the time? As this requires some custom work, it might be too late for mother’s day 2013, but there’s always father’s day…)

GIVE HER SOMETHING HANDMADE BY YOU

Nothing beats something you made yourself. Be it a drawing from your daughter’s kindergarten art class, or something sweet and delicious to eat, like these treats. To be honest, you could go buy any issue of Martha Stewart (which is where I found this recipe) and find something lovely to make, but I’ve got a thing for cookies. Plus they are great to make with kids. Not that I’m doing any making this mother’s day, mind you…

GIVE HER SOMETHING TO READ

This cookbook is fabulous because it is not only chock full of delicious and completely approachable recipes, it is also a hilarious read. This contest for kitchen dominance between NY Times food writers Julia Moskin and Kim Severson is full of personal stories, pitfalls and a genuine love of cooking at home. In my opinion, everybody wins.

Or, just get her this book by Stephanie Tourles and we can make all sorts of great stuff together. Nothing like creating your own line of skin care and body products, right?

Have anything to add to the list? Any great ideas for what I should give my mother-in-law, for example? Feel free to let me know in the comments. I’m happy for any and all suggestions.