I’m hitting pause on my One Room Challenge to pop in and share some last minute Mothers Day gifts.  I’ve heard from many of you that you’re always looking for inspiration for gifts, so I’ve come up with some fun and fast ideas for the Moms in your life!  Perhaps you are the gift-receiving mom?  Go ahead and forward this post on to the gift-givers in your life.  They will probably be relieved to have some ideas!

Listen.  I love a hand made gift.  Truly I do.  A sweet card or drawing from my kiddos and a handful of flowers from the yard bring me so much happiness!  Even a well-meaning serving of breakfast in bed is a sweet gift of love and appreciation (even if it IS a bit awkward and messy).  I am truly grateful for whatever gesture of love and kindness my people bestow on me, as the Mom in your life is, I’m sure.  These are simply some ideas of gifts or experiences that take it to the next level.  If you’re able to spend a little – or a lot – here are some things that just may knock her socks off.

Now, I’m nothing if not practical.  This guide won’t give fluffy or pretty gift ideas.  No scarves or jewelry here.  The suggestions I’m making will truly lift the load of some of her daily chores and responsibilities.  I’ve suggested simple ideas, most of which will arrive on your doorstep in a day or two via Amazon Prime.

I’m also sharing a “next-level” upgrade to really take her breath away.  Feel free to adjust my suggestions based on your circumstance or budget, or mix and match from the various ideas.  Let’s get to it!

What she really wants for Mother’s Day

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Many moms practically live in their cars, shuttling kids around and running errands.  These pieces will help keep the car clean(er) and (more) organized.  The little trash bin can be clipped on the back of a seat or behind the front center console.  When there’s a place to put the trash (other than the floor), things stay tidier.  This collapsible tote comes in super handy for carrying lots of grocery bags, hauling supplies in to school or work, carrying big sports equipment, and lots more.  It folds flat so she can slip it into the bottom of her grocery cart or Costco cart.

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To really treat her, book a mobile car detailing service.  We recently had an incident that necessitated my first ever car detailing treatment.  I found a local service that came right to our home.  They cleaned the car as I worked inside the house.  It was so incredibly simple to arrange, and the results were truly transformative.  My car had not been so clean since we drove it off the dealership lot years ago!  It’s a simple thing, but it’s almost impossible to articulate how much joy this simple act brought to me.

Detailing services can be pricey, so if you don’t want to hire it out, give the gift of your time and clean her car for her.  Even better, commit to doing it once a month or quarterly.  Such a gift!

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A fresh robe and a new pair of pretty slippers is the perfect indulgence for Mother’s Day.  These pretty and comfortable pieces will become staples on lazy weekend mornings.

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Up the ante by throwing in a gift card to Ulta or Sephora where she can splurge on favorite makeup, skin care or hair care, or a gift card to her favorite spa.  Here in Raleigh, I love love love Lorena Luca spa.  It is a true retreat.

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The gift of nostalgia may be what the Mom in your life would love.  The gorgeous acrylic frames shown here are from Anthropologie, but I found a close dupe on Prime.  Print out a favorite photo (I upload photos on my Walgreens app, then pick up the photo while I’m out and about.)

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I’m so intrigued by these DNA Ancestry kits!  You use the kit to simply send in a saliva sample, and in 6-8 weeks your results are available online.  “The DNA results tell you which places your ancestors once called home, across 167 regions.  They also connect you to potential relatives who have also taken the AncestryDNA test.”

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I jumped on the essential oil bandwagon a year or two ago, and just love using these oils around our home.  I truly believe some of the kidsafe blends have helped us avoid the stomach bugs and colds that descend in the winter.  I don’t evangelize for any particular brand.  I sometimes pick them up in Whole Foods, and have happily ordered from Plant Therapy.  This set of their oils is available via Prime and is an excellent selection of basic, hard-working oils.  This simple, small diffuser will tuck away discreetly among your decor, and fill the air with lovely scents.  I like to mix Lavender and Lemon oils to make the house smell clean and fresh, even if that is far from our reality.  [Here’s a good beginner’s post on essential oils if you’re wondering what the fuss is all about.]

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Now, the mom you’re shopping for may not appreciate receiving a cleaning device on Mother’s Day.  But, I know I would if it were this vacuum!  This one is, dare I say, life changing!  It makes quick clean ups so incredibly easy, and is as powerful as a plug-in vacuum.  We recently got the one shown above, and everyone in our house absolutely loves using it.  It tackles our pet hair, crumbs, and dust so quickly and efficiently.  I can whip all around our house, up and down stairs with such ease.  It’s a splurge for sure, but will save the vacuum-ers in your house time and frustration.

Take it a step further, and book a cleaning service to clean or deep-clean her home.  As someone who does not have regular cleaning service, having a professional deep clean our home would be an incredibly welcome gift.  Imagine the hours of time you’ll save her!  Book the service, and send her out for a couple of hours of self care.  A friend recently told me about the excellent service she received through Amazon’s new Home Services.

Weekender Bag | Escape Book

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This adorable bag is the perfect size for a night or two away from home.  Gray Malin’s Escape is a visually stunning coffee table book she will love thumbing through.  These are lovely gifts on their own, but…

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Truly treat that Mom by giving her the gift of a night away in a nice hotel.  Listen.  We love our families so so so much.  Really we do.  But, sometimes we just want to maybe order some room service, watch a favorite movie, sleep peacefully in a big comfy bed, and wake up naturally (not to the shouts or jumps of little ones).  Any hotel will likely do, but pull out all the stops if you can, and book a room that will feel like a true indulgence.  Here in Raleigh that would be at The Umstead.

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Restorative Yoga on Thursdays has become one of the highlights of my week.  I genuinely look forward to it so very much, and not many things will cause me to miss it.  I recently got this bag to tote my mat to and from class, and it works so well for my needs.  It’s the perfect size for my mat, a bottle of water, and even big enough to hold a change of clothes if needed.  There are pockets on the inside and outside for phone and keys, and magnetic closures at the top.  It may be time to upgrade her worn old yoga mat, and there are lots of fun patterns to choose from here.

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Most yoga studios offer class passes or gift cards.  Has the mom in your life mentioned wanting to try out a particular studio or yoga method?  I’m kind of dying to try aerial yoga myself!

Another splurge would be a Fab Fit Fun box.  I have not gotten one myself, but I’m so tempted!  It’s a seasonal subscription box filled with full-size premium products.  It costs $50 per box, but it’s filled with $200 worth of beauty, fitness, wellness and home items.  There’s no need to commit to an entire year…you can do one box, then cancel if you’d like.  Give her a gift certificate and she can start her subscription and tailor her box, or let it be a surprise.  I imagine it’s like Christmas morning, opening the box up!

Car Trash Bin | Carry-all Tote | Robe | Slippers | Frame | DNA kit

Diffuser | Oils | Vacuum | Weekender Bag | Escape Book | Yoga Mat | Yoga Bag | Fab Fit Fun

[This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase items using these links, I may receive a tiny percentage, at absolutely no extra cost to you. This helps support my business in a small, but meaningful way. Thank you for your support!]