Don’t get me wrong — flowers are good and you know she’d love them. But why not go outside the conventional bounds and give her something rather different and memorable? Here’re some ideas…
Okay, if you’re committed to flowers, let’s get that out of the way first. You can still order in time for delivery for Mother’s Day (you do know it’s on May 13, right?). You can get them from Fleurop, the most extensive flower delivery service in the world (I said “extensive” not “expensive”). If you live in Poland you can order on Fleurop’s website and have them delivered to someone in Argentina. Or Nigeria. Or Iceland. And of course the United States. And vice versa. I’ve written previously about Fleurop’s history and scope in my post on humans and flowers. To order, click the text link above or the banner below. And if you are in the UK (or you mom is), you can order from Fleurop.co.uk. Get 15% off an order using code 2012MD15 at checkout (through 5/31/12).
Now for some different suggestions… How about some customized Chuck Taylor shoes from Converse? I’ll bet you didn’t know you could design a pair. Or she can. Women are into Chuck Taylor’s now. The easiest thing would be to go the Converse site and get your mom a gift card (everybody likes gift cards) and she can design her own pair (on the site, click “Shop” and you’ll see Gift Cards under “More”). Or she can choose something else cool out of their selection of apparel. You can have the card mailed. Or send it as an e-card, so it’ll be sure to be on time. Or you can order something like the limited-edition Missoni woven print sneaker. Lots of options, and she’ll like any one of them.
Of course, when it comes to women (and moms are women, remember) clothes are always in order. But rather than get something ordinary from the local discount department store, how about something from Fossil? Not what you’d ordinarily think about for Mother’s Day, but that’s the idea. They have cool items and they’re offering free shipping on orders over $100. Need a specific suggestion? How about a Stella watch, a ceramic watch, or jewelry? And there’s always gift cards.
A good Mother’s Day gift is something your Mom would not ordinarily get for herself. Perhaps she wishes she had more time to read books but her busy life keeps getting in the way. There’s a solution for that: Audible.com.
Audible.com is the premier online provider of digital audiobooks and audio entertainment. Now, instead of having to sit down to read that bestseller she’s been yearning after, your mother can listen to it on her MP3 player, iPod, iPhone, Kindle, Blackberry, or Android device, among other options. Obviously, this means she can listen while exercising, riding the bus, or any other multi-tasking opportunity. Audible.com offers over 100,000 titles in many different genres. Books, speeches, radio broadcasts, and more can be purchased separately or through an economical monthly membership. Entertainment, self-improvement, and education at your fingerstips! (Or ear tips.)
Finally, she can catch up with her friends and read (listen to) The Hunger Games!
And right now, you can get the first 3 months of membership at Audible.com for just $7.49 a month (regularly $14.95). This entitles you to one audiobook per month, a free digital subscription to The New York Times or Wall Street Journal, and ongoing discounts on Audible.com products.
Click for The Hunger Games audiobook from Audible.com
How about some great food from Spain? That’s right, Spain. This is not Mexican food, this is Spanish food, and the place to get it in the U.S. is La Tienda, a business that imports lots of delicious and one-of-a-kind products from Spain. Their site deserves careful exploration. And their food merits appreciative dining. Maybe you can’t cook for your mom, but you can still give her something really tasty. And unique. They also have cookbooks, cookware, and beautiful ceramics, among many other things.
But let’s get back to customization. How about making her a one-of-a-kind product at Zazzle? You can make her a T-shirt, tote bag, apron, greeting card, mouse pad — they have almost 40 different products to choose from. Use one of your own digital photos. Go to Zazzle’s “Create” page and have at it. You can add your own text, too. Or, if you can’t quite come up with your own design, Zazzle has over a billion products to choose from, plus the Artsprojekt and Labz specialty sites (see the links in the top bar on their site). Use the Zazzle search bar to search on one of your mom’s interests and lots of product options will appear. You can often customize these products, too. Or you could try my Zazzle store (it’s got women’s clothing). You can select expedited shipping to make sure it arrives on time.
When’s the last time your mom had a nice vacation? You can get her a gift card to BedandBreakfast.com and she can select from more than 4,000 B&B’s and other lodgings around the U.S. and Canada. Imagine the fun she’d have choosing a place to go and stay. She could go with your dad, her BFF, or have her own adventure… They’re offering a deal for Mother’s Day, too — 10% off using this code: BBMOM10. See details at the site.
If not a vacation, how about an event? You could treat you mom to a show or concert. Just go to TicketNetwork to select from a huge array of current and upcoming events. How about Wicked? Or Cirque Du Soleil? Or Sting? TicketNetwork has good prices (usually lower than the competition — such as 15% off Broadway ticket orders over $200 with code BWAYSAVE15 through 6/15/10) and good customer service. And if she’s a sports fan (baseball — save 10% using code MLB2010 through 6/15; or tennis, anyone?) they’ve got that covered, too.
And if you send her on a trip or to an event (or even if you don’t), she might want to have some new luggage or a new handbag. Fortunately, eBags, probably the best one-stop shopping spot for getting things to carry stuff in, has some good deals going. Explore their site. You could start by checking Mother’s Day handbag suggestions.
Corona Ergonomic Pruner
But maybe your mom wants to stay closer to home… Does she like to garden? How about a nice Corona pruner? (Corona makes some of the best forged tools.) Click the image to the right or here to find them for a discount at BIC Warehouse.
They feature a forged, heat-treated bypass blade. The angled head reduces wrist fatigue.
Does she like to bird-watch? How about a pair of binoculars from Cabelas? These Bushnell 10×42 All-purpose binoculars should fit the bill. And they’re not expensive.
Is she into “green” living? Then you’re sure to be able to find something for her at GreenandMore, which carries a ton of environmentally-oriented products, gear, and things for the home.
How about music? Fortunately, I have just the thing: Bach’s Goldberg Variaions, played by Glenn Gould, an absolutely legendary recording. Everybody likes the Goldberg Variations. Or find something else out of a selection of 500,000 works at CD Universe, including movies and television shows.
Maybe your mom is a reader, too. So how about a magazine subscription? It’s the gift that keeps on giving every month… And not just any magazine subscription, but a discounted one. You can get great prices on a big selection of magazines, including many 2-for-1 offers, at University Subscription Service. It’s the only way I subscribe anymore. The prices are consistently the lowest I’ve found and the customer service is good. Just don’t get your mom Popular Mechanics (unless she’s a DIYer). She’d probably enjoy Elle, Smithsonian, Self, The New Yorker, Vanity Fair, or any of a hundred others.
Does she enjoy wine? Then she would appreciate a bottle that you can personalize with a label just for her (and ratings of the wines help you choose). Or choose from over 600 products at Wines.com. There is no mininum order and prices start at $10 a bottle.
Click to see the caviar selection at Mackenzie Ltd.
And to go with that wine, how about caviar, or another gourmet food item, from Mackenzie Ltd., one of the best sources of gourmet food on the web? They import only the best foods from around the globe. They have chocolate, too. And I’m talkin’ good chocolate.
And then, of course, there’s a camera. Mothers like cameras because, for some reason, they always want to take a picture of you. So help her out. An outstanding place to find all things photographic is J&R Computer/Music World, New York’s legendary, block-long electronics store. Great prices and excellent customer service. You can order and get expedited shipping to have it there by this weekend. They have a ton of other Mother’s Day gift suggestions as well.
Speaking of suggestions… If none of the preceding ideas has grabbed you and you’re still wondering what to get, try Overstock. They carry millions of products and they have a convenient suggestion page for Mother’s Day gifts (something they provide for every holiday). Of course, their prices are second to none — and their suggestions are okay (not as good as mine, but not bad). And shipping is only $2.95 on your entire order. Give them a try.
If you want still more suggestions and discount deals (for example, Best Buy is offering some special promotions) that I didn’t have the space to include here, go to my GOOD DEALS AND OUTLETS page (for future reference, the link is in the top menu bar). I’m continually updating it with coupons, best-buys, closeouts, interesting products, sales, discounts, and promotions from the best vendors.
Hope this has helped. Just as dads appreciate something besides a steady stream of neckties, moms like variability, too. It shows you put some thought into it. Though, of course, you know she won’t complain about flowers…
And for any moms who’ve happened to run across this post… Happy Mother’s Day! Are your kids sort of clueless? Then share this post on your Facebook page or elsewhere with one of the social bookmarks below, or forward the URL. Who knows — they might just get the hint.
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