Unique Mother's Day gifts

May 3, 2005 8:01 PM

With Mother's Day around the corner, I'd like to find something around $30 for mine (I love her but I'm poor).

I don't want something uber-specific, but a token of affection about as ornamental as flowers, while being just a touch more unique. Something available online would be ideal, as I will still be away at college on Sunday. Thanks to a recent question (about gifts for a new mother) for prompting me.

posted by NickDouglas to Shopping (16 answers total)

Many women in their forties and above have houses full of all the stuff they need. So, something expendable is good. How about a magazine subscription? Or a gift certificate for a massage or a manicure?
posted by orange swan at 8:16 PM on May 3, 2005

Like flowers but more unique? I've always been a fan of potted plants. They're not something that everybody gives, and there's something more poetic about giving someone something that can live for more than a week, blossoms when nurtured, etc. Leaves room for some creative and sentimental embellishment!
posted by whatzit at 8:20 PM on May 3, 2005

What about music. My wife loved "the Concert for George" tribute to George Harrison so I got the DVD for her. If you know her tastes music is something that lasts.
posted by ScotchLynx at 8:23 PM on May 3, 2005

Response by poster: Ah, orange swan, that's excellent, thank you!

Potted plants would be lovely too. Sadly, cut flowers will last longer than potted ones in her hands. My mom's killed cacti, palms, bushes, and one plastic plant (long story).

A concert DVD might be nice; I could have it sent in giftwrap.
posted by NickDouglas at 8:27 PM on May 3, 2005

Some cute ideas here and here for around $30. It can depend on her personality: gardening, knitting, lounging, girlie, spa, magazines... they are all great for different people!
posted by fionab at 8:40 PM on May 3, 2005

I can highly recommend Adagio Teas. They have special Mother's Day gifts, free wrapping, and expedited shipping.
posted by seymour.skinner at 9:19 PM on May 3, 2005

I bought mine the first season of MacGyver ($29.24).
posted by krisjohn at 10:13 PM on May 3, 2005 [1 favorite]

I bought mine the first season of MacGyver ($29.24).

So your Patty & Selmas offspring...
posted by Dreamghost at 1:35 AM on May 4, 2005

One nice idea is something wearable, so when she gets compliments, she can say "oh! my son gave me this." (I don't have a son, but I would like to say that.) I don't know if it's her style at all, but there are some great (handmade, I think) silk shawls at Novica. Like this, this, or this. More here (ordered by price).

(I love to wear monochrome outfits with just an interesting, elegant accessory like a scarf, shawl or belt to add a little drama. If it seems like your Mom's kind of like this, then one of these would be great.)
posted by taz at 1:39 AM on May 4, 2005

If you give me her name and address, and *promise* to pay me, I'll send her a card from Habitat for Humanity of Fort Worth that says you donated money to build a home for an underpriviledged person. If it goes in the mail tonight, she should have it by Saturday. $30 will buy "a box of floor tile". Or a porch light fixture or a flat of flowers goes for $20. The beauty of it is, she know won't exactly how much you spent because the card is worded "the amount of this gift will enable the purchase of [insert item here] by Habitat for Humanity." Here is a link to the home we built last year.
posted by Doohickie at 6:11 PM on May 4, 2005

p.s. If you want to do this, email me through the address in my profile.
posted by Doohickie at 6:12 PM on May 4, 2005

Last year, I made my mother vanilla sugar by blending a few real vanilla bean pods into cane sugar. It was an idea I got from "the Naked Chef" and if you google for it, I'm sure you can get better directions and recipe ideas.
posted by achmorrison at 8:02 PM on May 4, 2005

Given some very heavy hints that have been dropped, I think my son is giving me a Ramones poster. I think that will be lovely, but YMMV.

I usually get my mom a plant - it's that time of year - or something garden-y and useful or pretty. Check out a garden shop or a museum shop near you for something that feels like her. I swear by just browsing until something jumps out at you - I know it sounds silly but the best gifts I've ever gotten for people who are hard to buy for (my mom) I've found that way.
posted by mygothlaundry at 8:06 PM on May 4, 2005

I once bought my mother a pellet gun for mother's day after listening to her complain for months about the rodents and birds that drove her crazy on her waterfront property. She returned it a week later after the cop nextdoor explained to her that shooting seagulls was a bad thing.

Now I stick to gardening stuff. She bought a house with my grandmother 3 years ago, and between Easter, Mother's Day, and her birthday, they end up with about 6-12 new plants or shrubs every year.
posted by chickygrrl at 7:27 AM on May 5, 2005

Response by poster: I ended up getting her a typewriter key necklace from Uncommon Goods, to honor her job (she taught typing at a private school for several years) and the love for writing she passed onto me (I'm starting a career in fiction). Thank you, fionab.
posted by NickDouglas at 10:56 AM on May 5, 2005

Make her dinner. You will be the most wonderful child a mother could have!
posted by Taken Outtacontext at 6:06 AM on May 7, 2005