5 Unique Gifts to Thank the Maternal Figure in Your Life
As a new mom-to-be, Mother’s Day has, as you might expect, a somewhat enhanced meaning for me this year. Normally, though, it’s a time when it’s enough to celebrate the woman who made our (actual!) life possible, and, in general, the women who make it special day-to-day: that may include your mother, your grandma, your mentor, or all of them. It’s a day to celebrate the unique gifts they give us.
How to wow this important figure can sometimes feel like a challenge. What if she has it all? Let’s make it simple: whether you’re spoiling her rotten with a really indulgent gift, or looking for something small with a sentimental message, here’s a cheat sheet of Mother’s Day offerings from a new mom to-be herself, filled with gifts that are sure to surprise the special Mom character in your life:
Make Mom Feel Nearer to You – with Some Digital Help
Thanks to the French founders of Ode à la Rose, a swank, New York City-based florist (voted “Best Flower Delivery Service” by New York magazine), senders can now create a personalized voice or video message to include with their bouquets via a mobile app.
Ode à la Rose’s new technology to help you bridge the geographical divide between you and your loved ones. So, she won’t just receive a bouquet. She’ll get an audio or video clip of you that you’ve just recorded — thanking her, just saying you love her, singing a song or doing whatever you want!
Why this is failsafe: roses (or any flower) arrive with a genuine sense of love, joy, affection, and celebration. And the conversation continues with a real-time response from the receiver via video, photo or voice message: see the fun video enactment (with distinctly French-looking actors!) by clicking on the “Personalize Your Delivery” option on the left-hand side of the screen here.
An Oldie-but-Goody: Breakfast in Bed
A book of Genius Recipes from Food52 recently debuted, and it is destined to become any mom’s resource for smart, memorable cooking. It’s also easily pair-able with the well-curated selection of cookware essentials from the site. Or, you can also take it one step further and explore their library of online recipes and whip up something homemade and delish for that special mother figure in your life.
Because they believe how you eat is how you live, co-founders Amanda and Merrill meticulously keep their site fresh with inspiring recipes from culinary experts from all over, so there is no lack of “top chef” options to source.
Beauty from the Inside Out
The women behind ultra-comfortable, minimally fussy Negative Underwear have created a line that keeps the first layer closest to the skin as genuine and frills-free as possible. Founded by “NYC downtown gals” Lauren Schwab and Marissa Vosper, but sourced in Belgium and the U.S., the line is made up of minimalist-with-a-twist separates that embrace an effortless, Parisian aesthetic, yet are undeniably seductive and intimate. Earlier this year, they were deemed Best Comfortable Lingerie for Everyday Wear by New York magazine, and the brand lives up to the goal of empowering women to feel comfortable (and confident) in their own skin.
“The sexiest thing about you, is you” is the belief of its founders – and that’s quite a powerful, positive confidence-builder to send to a women you admire for Mother’s Day. Also helpful: you can package the set for $100 or less.
Monogram (or Customize) your Love
Founded by designer Katherine Kane, the K-Kane Jewelry Collection allows customers to celebrate themselves and their loved ones in style. Her monogrammed pieces are considered to be wearable art, or personal logos for women who want to make a statement with an accessory that is distinct to them and the message they want to convey.
Unlike most personalized jewelry that’s created from computer-generated fonts, Katherine actually designs each initial combination as original artwork, based on the specific letter combination chosen by her customers. Newly introduced: Her graffiti collection — engraved with “your words, your handwriting,” as its motto says. Inscribe a favorite saying between you and your honoree: a mantra, song lyric, or even inside joke. The possibilities of personalization are truly endless!
Gifting That “Gives Back” Always Looks Good
Brought to you by Nomad Two Worlds, a socially-conscious company dedicated to supporting indigenous and marginalized communities worldwide, the Nomad Raw Spirits fragrance collection celebrates the unique ingredients and spirit of some of the world’s most ancient cultures, with ingredients from, say, the Western Australian desert. The beauty of this is that you are presenting a unique, unusual gift, and also doing some good in the process.
There are currently six fragrances to choose from, including Raw Spirit Desert Blush, Wild Fire and Bijou Vert, all starting at $40, and intelligently created in collaboration with master perfumer Harry Fremont (Firmenich) in fulfillment of a commitment both companies made to the Clinton Global Initiative. While evoking unique emotions, a portion of each sale also goes directly to support agricultural projects in partner communities throughout Australia, Haiti and the U.S.
Inspired by the desert sunset, “Raw Spirit Desert Blush” evokes the hour when the desert blushes pink and scarlet; “Wild Fire” is a warm sensual fragrance that combines the rich dry scent of premium wild harvested Australian Sandalwood with the floral notes of ylang ylang, jasmine petals, cedarwood and musk. And Bijot Vert (“Green Jewel”) was inspired by Haiti, the beautiful Caribbean island — despite its current struggles — once known as the “Jewel of the Antilles.”
So don’t let Mother’s Day sneak up on you this year! Instead say “thank you” (in a big way) with something as unique as she is.
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