I know I’m a bit biased, but I pretty much have the best mama in the whole wide world. I seriously don’t know anyone who is more giving, loving, practically helpful, and involved (in a good way) than she is. We’ve always been best pals, but I don’t think I’ve ever been more aware of just how awesome she is than this year when she’s been helping me home school the kids (they, of course, adore her, and I find myself waffling weirdly between jealous of their experience with her as their “Softa” {as a rather “grandma-deprived” child myself} and just so thrilled that they get to have it).

That said, I don’t know that I’ll be buying my mom one thing from this Mother’s Day Gift Guide List since she reads my blog (hi, Mom!).

But if YOU’RE in the market for a gift for a mama in your life (yours, a sister-in-law, friend, aunt…you get the idea), OR if you just need to send a few hefty hints your husband’s direction (nudge, nudge), I’ve compiled my usual list of things-I-love-and-think-you-will-too.

Disclosure: this post contain Amazon affiliate links because Amazon is the bomb.com (just dated myself), and I practically don’t buy things from “real” stores anymore because that requires getting dressed, and it just makes sense to promote the store that lets me shop in my p.j.s and get my stuff via Prime shipping.

1. A gift guide of mine just wouldn’t be complete without a Rifle Paper Co. product. I love them so.

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I hadn’t run across this Rifle Paper Co. Great Things Notepad before, and I absolutely love both a) the aesthetic and b) the saying: “Great things are done by a series of small things brought together.” If that’s not comforting to this mama who feels like she never finishes a “big” (think: cleaning out the pantry) project in under a week (split into 37 different little scrubbing/sorting sessions), I don’t know what is. Maybe all of those small efforts really will pay off some day!

2. Have a coffee-lover in your life? Then, they might just love this Presto 12-Cup Stainless Steel Coffee Maker. I am not a coffee-lover, but if the 3,054 4 1/2 star reviews of this best-selling product are any indication, it makes really hot, really great tasting coffee, holds up well, looks pretty, and is an amazing price for the value. So, there you go.

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3. I don’t usually include items over $50 on my gift lists, but Mother’s Day just might be one of those moments to splurge, so I thought I’d throw this Babyliss Pro Nano Titanium Straightening Iron on here just in case someone is looking for an extra-special gift, and this one fits the bill. I’m actually seriously considering getting it for myself because I managed to come home from our Colorado vacation last summer without my good straightening iron and have been making do with a Walmart cheapie version that does a whole lot more flattening than straightening. (Ruuuurl cute).

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My hairstylist has this one, and I always marvel at how smooth and sleek my bangs are after one swipe. It’s seriously THEE best my coarse, wavy/curly, ultra-thick hair has ever responded to a heating iron.

P.S. The best I can tell, this is the authentic Babyliss product (I read through a lot of reviews and “answered questions” boards to determine that this link–and this link only–appears to be legit on Amazon. Any others I found were universally declared to be knock-offs), and I’m thisclose to pulling the trigger myself. I’ll be sure to do an update post if I do.

4. I love functional things that are also pretty, and this Sakroots Artist Circle Critter Travel Case Cosmetic Bag, Natural Peace, One Size definitely fits that bill. It comes in all kinds of fun patterns and has great reviews for functionality and style.

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Best part: it has three separate transparent compartments that all unfold and are clearly visible when you hang it by the hook provided.

5. I keep stumbling upon Pressing Pause: 100 Quiet Moments for Moms to Meet with Jesus, and I’m really liking what I see so far. That said, I haven’t read it yet, but it would make a great gift for a busy mom who needs encouragement/scripture/direction/prayer all rolled into one.

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6. I don’t bake a lot of pies, but I still use my (clearance Anthro) rolling pin often enough that I keep mine hanging on the wall behind my sink. If I didn’t, I would be so tempted to go for this White Marble Rolling Pin with Wood Base. It’s super-chic looking and would look so great against the wall with some pretty wooden chopping boards stacked behind it.

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7. Speaking of which…I use cutting boards every day, but mine are far from pretty and stay squirreled away in a drawer. I’m loving the trend of displaying cutting boards against the kitchen wall, though, and this Paddle Cutting Board would be a great start to a collection (awesome price…great reviews).

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8. I think I’ve recommended a Tocca perfume trio before, but it’s totally worth mentioning again. I have a tendency to get headaches after about 30 minutes of wearing a fragrance, but I never have that reaction when I’m wearing Tocca, and I have yet to try one of their scents that I don’t at least find pleasant (there are at least two that I downright adore). The price for this Tocca Eau de Parfum Viaggio Holiday Collection is incredible. (Shaun bought me a similar trio the Christmas before last, and I still have plenty left).

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9. I keep seeing rave reviews for these dark chocolate barkTHINS–enough so that I’m both a) curious and b) a little relieved I’ve yet to cave. If you have a chocoholic in your life, I think it’s a pretty safe bet she’d love these.

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10. I’m always on the prowl for a headband that will actually keep my hair out of my face without slipping off the back of my (apparently bullet-shaped and rather large) head. If it’s cute, well, all the better!

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I don’t personally own this one (yet), but, if over 250 five star reviews are any indication, this non-slip running headband just might do the trick. It comes in a variety of fun patterns and colors too.

OH! And if none of these suggestions caught your fancy, be sure to check back to my under $10, under $25, and under $50 Christmas gift guides. Lots and LOTS of other fun ideas, most of which are still available/similarly priced.

P.S. Remember when I posted about Beauty Counter skincare? Well, I’m fiiiiinally out of every last thing that I bought (yes, it took that long), and I am ready to reorder. Because, even though their products aren’t cheap, they are literally the only ones that I’ve ever been able to say, without a doubt, made a visible difference in the clarity, tone, and evenness of my skin. (My husband and friends noticed too…that’s never happened before). And clearly, they last forever. I had my girl, Noelle, start a “social” (basically an online party) so that I could order through it to get hostess rewards on my own purchases, but several of you had expressed interest in how to order ages ago, and I did a terrible job of following up with that. So! If you are at all interested in getting some product–either for you or for a gift–you can use the social link to do so. NO pressure, of course. But I thought I’d mention it since I’m ordering from it myself.

2 Comments

  1. I used to own the Babyliss Pro Nano Titanium Straightening Iron, and while I loved how sleek/smooth it made it my hair, I did not love how it fried it. The ends of my hair turned into little fried pieces of hair (no immediately), and I did not have the iron on the highest heat. The same thing happened to my sister, only worse for her because she didn’t stop using it as quickly as I did.

    I will say that once your hair is straightened, it will last. I think it’s a great straighter to use maybe once or twice a week, at the most. It took a while, but once I stopped using this particular flat iron my hair returned to it’s healthy-ish state.

    We did not purchase our straightener from Amazon, we purchased them directly from our stylists “catalog”, so I am certain they were 100% authentic. I say that, because I don’t think authenticity was the issue.

    Of course everyone’s hair different. I now use the Brocato Vibrastrait Oscillating Flat Iron, and have zero complaints, this is after trying a Chi and Rusk.

    1. Good to know! I don’t straighten my hair very often, and it’s very coarse/thick/burn-resistant, but I’ll keep that in mind!

I love hearing from you guys!