I don’t know about you, but I know that for me, it can be pretty hard to buy gifts for my mom sometimes. I’m not sure what it is exactly. An age gap? A parent that’s too practical? A feeling that you’ve pretty much given them everything at this point? Or if you’re a husband looking to buy for a wife, it might be a gender issue. Whatever the case may be, Mother’s Day is fast approaching on May 10th. And I’m attempting to help us all by compiling a list of some last-minute gift ideas.
Mother’s Day Decor
If you want to be holiday-specific, local home decor shops have lots of adorable things to choose from. My personal favorite lately is The Ivy at River Park. They have gifts ranging from funny (a sign listing life lessons from mom, including My Mother Taught Me Faith: “You better pray that will come out of the carpet”) to sweet (a burlap pillow that says “Best Mom Ever”). They also have all kinds of other lovely things, including candles and unique jewelry.
Mom’s Day/Night Out
We all know moms just need a little break sometimes. To me, a facial is the perfect little slice of relaxation. The only problem with spas is they can kind of cost an arm and a leg. That’s why I’ve always been a proponent of going to little studio-type spas owned independently by an esthetician. Prices are usually much more reasonable, and honestly, with the right atmosphere, who needs all the big bells and whistles to have a nice experience? I discovered one a couple months ago that I absolutely love: Bel Viso Therapeutic Spa in Old Town Clovis. Owner Rebecca Pacini offers fabulous personalized facials at an absolutely steal: from $30 for a 30-minute mini facial to an $80 Fit For A Queen facial. The best part? The bonus foot or scalp massage mom will get while waiting for her face mask to do it its work! You can get gift certificates from Rebecca by calling 559-367-2917.
Alternatively, you could treat mom to a meal out, either with the family or with her girlfriends. Places with a nice atmosphere that I really dig: Piazza del Pane (particularly for brunch, but they also have delicious dinner and gelato), with locations on Cedar & Nees and Palm & Herndon; Zen Wok Fusion for dinner and drinks, with locations in the Tower District and on Palm & Herndon; and FIVE on Champlain & Perrin if you’re looking for something a little fancier!
Beauty at Home
Another way to pamper mom and make her feel beautiful is some quality make-up and skincare products, if that’s something your mother enjoys. For this I turned to our resident expert and fellow FresYes-ser Natali Carrera, who recommended a couple of her current favorite items. The first is the Bite Beauty Limited Edition Watercolor Collection, which is a 12-gloss set that’s available at Sephora for $49. Says Natali, “Colors mix and match beautifully, blues go on sheer and make teeth appear whiter. Yellow warms any color and sheers out.” A bonus? Bite Beauty’s items are made in California and contain only food-grade and lip-conditioning ingredients! The lip gloss collection is available at Sephora for $48. The other item Natali recommends is the Clinique shadow palette called “A Black Honey Affair,” which she calls “super blendable, easy to apply and beautiful for all skin tones.” This is available at all stores were Clinique is sold, for $36.
Personally, I recommend the spa route again, but doing it at home. Ladies, if you’ve never been to Lush at Fashion Fair, do yourself a favor and head over there for both yourself and mom! Their plethora of amazing-smelling bath bombs are always a hit for gifting. But I’m partial to the refrigerated face masks, which feel great in the summer. Ms. Natali actually gave me one called Cupcake for my birthday that I loved. Each mask is engineered for different skin concerns, and you can get 3-5 uses for only $6.95 for each tub!
Just A Little Something Sweet
If your family isn’t the type to go all out, you can always give mom a little treat to make her feel appreciated. I’m a huge fan of celebrating with Frosted Cakery. Their amazing gourmet cupcakes are about $4 each. It’s all good, but try anything with bacon. Trust me! This Tower District shop also does macarons, cookies and cake pops.
Another idea is to surprise mom with a morning cup of coffee and a cronut from Kuppa Joy in Old Town Clovis. Or if coffee isn’t her thing, check out Teazer World Tea Market downtown, in Tower or at River Park. They have a million varieties of tea both made-to-order and loose leaf, AND they actually have incredible pastries and desserts!
Finally, if all else fails, go with a sweet card! My favorite stationery store, Top Drawer, has the best selection in town! And actually, come to think of it, the Fig Garden boutique sells actual cookies and sweets to boot, as well as tons of other adorable things that mom might love.
So that’s what I’ve brainstormed for this year’s Mother’s Day extravaganza! What are some of your favorite go-to gifts? Help us out below in the comments!
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