Deciding what to get the woman who raised you, fed you and put a roof over your head for better or worse is for some, a cinch but for others an annual dilemma that is ultimately left to the last possible minute. Here are a few gift ideas that are deceptively thoughtful, but easily fetched on your way to Mothers Day brunch.
Available at Holt Renfrew (737 Dunsmuir, 604-681-3121, HoltRenfrew.com)
Didnt you hear? Bright colours are all the rage this season, so show off your fashion prowess (and show her that she taught you well) by getting your mother one of these eye-popping shoulder bags by Kate Spade. Seeking more good-offspring points? Suggest she pair it with other coloured items (props to you if you know actual pieces from her closet) to get that amazing, colour-blocked, Jil Sander effect.
At Noir Lash Lounge (1150 Hamilton, 604-915-LASH, NoirLashLounge.com)
Featured in the May issue of Vogue, the new LashDip service at this local eyelash emporium is the surest way to eliminate a few precious minutes from your mothers get-ready routine (after years of putting up with you, after all, she needs all the beauty rest she can get). Lashes are literally dipped in a 100 percent hypoallergenic, semi-permanent vegan and preservative-free formula, leaving your peepers up to 10 times darker, thicker, and longer than if they were coated in regular mascara. Upper lashes cost $125 (including a touch-up appointment) while lower lashes which are excluded from other eyelash services, such as tinting and extensions cost $45. Best of all, the results last up to six weeks, which means your gift will at least be remembered for that time.
Available at Williams-Sonoma (2903 Granville, 778-330-2581, Williams-Sonoma.ca)
Any mom who has invested significant time and money in her kitchen will appreciate that this is the smallest Nespresso machine ever made. For empty nesters that have downsized their living space, this means it will take up minimal counter space; for the technology-challenged, its unbelievably easy to use: just pop in one of the coffee capsules (the machine includes 16), select how much caffeine you need (to a maximum of three ounces), and 30 seconds later voila! If only all those Sunday roasts had been this easy.
Available at Tiffany & Co. (723 Burrard, 604-630-1300,
Tiffany.ca)
They say you should tie a bow around your finger to remember something but we say someone as special as your mom deserves more than a little string knot. Just launched (in time for the important holiday), Tiffanys twist bow pendants reflect a traditional method of jewelry-making, where wire was hand-twisted to create a 3D, spiral pattern. Available in sterling silver ($270) or 18-karat yellow gold ($725), the necklaces are pretty and romantic but still mother-appropriate; there are also hoop earrings and bangles made using the same, twisting technique (her next birthday present, perhaps?).
Available at Chapters (788 Robson, 604-682-4066,
Chapters.ca)
If you honestly cant think of anything else, Paddywaxs floral-scented candles and room diffusers and a Paperthinks memo book is a step up (albeit a small one) from generic-gift territory. The least you can do for your mother is make her home smell nice; next, add a notebook with plenty of lined pages and be sure to write a nice note inside.
