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GIFT IDEAS FOR MOTHER’S DAY 2021
I remember last year while researching and writing my ‘Mother’s Day Gift Guide - COVID Edition’ thinking, “What a strange time to live in.” Little did I suspect then that one trip around the sun later, we would still be battling through this pandemic, sacrificing precious time with family and friends.
This year, celebrating the people we love most like our mothers, mothers-in-law, wives, and moms-to-be on Mothers Day is going to mean even more! Not only because we lost out on celebrating their birthday or the pregnancy and birth of a friends or sibling new baby, or numerous Sunday dinners with family and BBQ’s with friends, but because this pandemic has made us treasure meaningful relationships like the ones we share with them so much more. This Mother’s Day, we are not only making up for lost time but we are showing up with a new sense of appreciation and gratitude for all that they do (including forwarding those silly chain emails I used to find annoying but now realize are thoughtful and meant to cheer me up).
- WHEN IS MOTHER’S DAY? -
I know, it’s hard to keep track of because the exact date switches every year but, Mother’s Day always falls on the second Sunday in the month of May, which means ‘Mothers Day 2021’ falls on Sunday, May 9th!
To help inspire you, I have assembled a list of thoughtful gifts you can give that special woman in your life to shows them how special they are.
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One thing I learned from the research I did for last years for Mother’s Day (I sat down with two mothers with two very different age ranges of kids, to see what they want and like), was that YES they wanted to feel appreciated and adored, but REALLY they also wanted ‘TIME OFF!’ The number of times this sentiment was repeated was comical! Yes, they would love to be celebrated by their family but they would also appreciate ‘act of service’ as much as ‘quality time’ and ‘receiving gifts’. So if you really want to make an impact on the woman in your life, try and do all three! Take some chores/responsibilities off their plate, do an activity with them, and leave them with something to remember you by.
- GIFTS FOR YOUR MOM -
Photography credit: Sash Doerksen
One way to make Mother’s Day memorable is to really make it an occasion. Organize an intimate get-together and treat them to a nice meal or service!
If you live in Toronto, The Four Seasons Hotel Toronto is offering luxury gift baskets with flowers, handmade chocolates, spa treats, and a bottle of champagne, as well as takeaway meals like an Afternoon Tea Tower with house-made sweet treats and a selection of tea. Additionally, if you want to go even BIGGER, you can order a family feast dreamed up by Chef de Cuisine Nicholas Trosien of Café Boulud which includes options like a roast beef prime rib, a garlic and black pepper roast leg of lamb, and a salt-crusted red snapper dinner! YUM!
Since leisurewear will continue to be the universal uniform for the foreseeable future, one thing you can do this Mother’s Day is treat your mom to some luxurious leisurewear.
Free People has been killing the loungewear game this past year and they have so many cute (and affordable!) sets including this Picnic Sweater Set that comes in multiple colours! Not only is their stuff super comfy and loose but I would totally wear these cropped pants out of the house once things start to open up again!
With summer on its way, perhaps a new, straw braided wide brim hat from Love and Lore could make the perfect gift for mom. Made exclusively available at Indigo, this beautiful hat offers optimal sun protection while also being versatile and elegant. She can wear it while on the patio catching up on her morning emails, or while gardening. Not to mention it goes with everything from gardening attire to her favourite sundress!
- GIFTS FOR MOM TO BE & NEW MOMS -
Made by a mom for moms, this Canadian-owned, steroid-free, fragrance-free, organic, plant-based skincare brand called Satya makes products to soothe all kinds of skin irritations and inflammation like eczema, psoriasis, sunburns, bug bites, rashes, chaffing, chapping, etc. Every mom-to-be or new mom should have a bottle of their balm on hand in case their little one experiences diaper rash, itchiness, or dryness. The number of uses you can get out of a single bottle is endless and is great for not just baby but mom too! It is even safe to use on animal paws when they crack from the winter salt!
With salons and spas still closed, it’s hard to give the gift of ‘time off for pampering’ this year but what if you could give that special lady the ultimate experience right at home?
Enter this premium Organic bamboo extendable bathtub caddy that features a spot to hold a glass of wine, a candle, and some soap or your phone, and an adjustable book/tablet propping bar! All you have to do is run a nice bubble bath, set the mood with a couple of nice smelling candles, roll up some towels as they do at the spa, play some relaxing music on the iPad or cue up her favourite show, and there you go! Plus, this organic bamboo caddy is totally waterproof and features non-slip gips so you can expect it to last a really long time and feel very sturdy.
If I had $100 I would bet that every morning the new mom you have in mind, pours herself a cup of coffee or tea and has to reheat it about 2-3 times before she is actually able to finish it.
New moms are so busy not to mention get distracted easily, and rightfully so! Wouldn’t it be great though if you could help make their lives a little bit easier by ensuring their coffee stays hot long enough for them to finish it?
If you have never heard of Yeti Tumbler’s they are a superior thermal tumbler with a vacuum sealed stainless steel design. They are completely BPA-free, dishwasher safe, and have a No Sweat, double-wall insulated design to make sure your hands stay dry and unaffected by the temperature of your drink. It also has a magnets lid flap that keeps your water, beer, or favorite drink on lock should it slip out of her hands, while also making it easy to access! It’s also not just for hot beverages but is great for keeping drinks cold as well!
- GIFT IDEAS FOR MOTHER IN LAW -
Falling asleep will never feel more luxurious than when it is done with a silk pillowcases pressed against your skin. Not only are they amazing at minimizing friction which dries out your hair, making it appear dull and causes serious bedhead frizz over time, but it doesn’t soak up all your expensive anti-aging creams while you sleep or cause creases on your face. Plus, silk is a natural fabric that is known for its cooling effects and breathable nature ensuring you have a more restful night’s sleep.
When it comes to purchasing the perfect silk pillowcase online there are a few things to keep in mind: 1) instead of thread count, silk uses momme - aim for something above 22 to ensure it’s very smooth to the touch, and 2) Mulberry silk is the highest quality of silk you can find (the Egyptian cotton of silk) so look for a pillowcase made of Mulberry silk to ensure high quality!
Two brands I would recommend are SLIP (uses Mulbury Pure Silk 22 momme) and Fishers Finery (uses Mulbury Pure Silk 25 momme)
Does your mother-in-law love to cook? Does she have a green thumb? Perhaps it’s time for you to introduce her to a Click and Grow Indoor Garden that allows her to grow fresh organic herbs all year round!
This Click and Grow Smart Garden 9 piece indoor gardening kit features Click and Grow Smart Soil plant pods with embedded non-GMO seeds that do not have or require any herbicides, pesticides, or fungicides! With the use of the Click and Grow energy efficient LED grow lights this indoor gardening kit can grow her favorite culinary herbs, salad greens, and/or favorite flowers all year round. All you need to do to start growing is put the plant pods into their cavities, plug in the power adaptor, fill the water reservoir, and that's it! She will be on her way to your first harvest in no time!
Simple yet a step up from a classic stud or hoop, these 14k Gold Dipped Toni Knocker Earrings from Jenny Bird are about to become your mother-in-law’s new favorite piece of jewelry!
No occasion is needed, these high polished earrings have a versatile classic design that is great to wear every day no matter what your style.
I have purchased a few Jenny Bird pieces myself and can attest to the quality and longevity of her products! I have never experienced any skin irritations or manufacturing issues, and considering the simple and effortless style of the Toni Knockers, she’ll definitely get a lot of use out of them!
INTERESTED IN MOTHER’S DAY DIY GIFTS? CHECK OUT THESE IDEAS!
- DIY MOTHER’S DAY CARD & IDEAS -
Although a repeat offender from last year’s Mother’s Day gift guide, this DIY Mother’s Day gift card idea is so sweet and easy to make, it is worthy of repeating. I ended up making a pressed flower DIY Mother’s Day card for my mother last year with an orchid flower that fell off my plant and a sheet of thick watercolor paper, and she just loved it! It’s also a great way to upcycle a beautiful flower and create something thoughtful and unique. In case you missed it last year, here is the youtube tutorial on how to do it!
If you don’t have flowers in your house or aren’t into the pressed flower idea, here are some easy handmade pop-up card tutorials you can try using paper that is also really nice!
Since you can’t take your mom out to do something fun this year or treat her to a spa day, you may also want to consider creating a few I.O.Us or a coupon book to throw in with your card. I created this template below for my mother after she requested ‘acts of service’ coupons for her birthday and just switched up the image so I could repurpose it for this Mother’s Day blog post! Feel free to print it off and use it!
I hope you enjoyed this Mother’s Day 2021 Gift Guide and found good gift ideas for your mother, mother in law or mother-to-be! If you have any comments or questions please feel free to leave them in the comment section below.
