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oh mother
May 3, 2013

The Perfect Gifts for All Types of Moms

By Veronica Misako Gledhill, Diana Tsui, and Christina Han

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Mother’s Day always sneaks up on us and before we know it, we’re scrambling to find a gift that aptly expresses the love and appreciation we have for the women who raised us. After all, they labored us into existence, got us out of bubble baths and into beds, to school and play dates, endured our teenage years and quarter-life crisis, and never even got paid for it. Since all of the Cut staff seems to have a different kind of mom to shop for, we’ve shamelessly stereotyped each personality and come up with what we hope will be a helpful list of 40+ gifts, even if your mom doesn’t fit neatly into our categories — like gorgeous new reading glasses for our bookworming “lit mom”; organic teas and re-purposed plastic for our “wholefoods mom”; a custom instagram watch for our “techno mom,” and the list goes on and on. We have options for every pay grade, and plenty of splurge-y ideas for going in on with siblings (or with dad).

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Yoga Mom 1. C.O. Bigelow's roll-on perfume oil will give her that added feeling of tranquility. 2. A striped tee will make her Breathless while ... Yoga Mom 1. C.O. Bigelow's roll-on perfume oil will give her that added feeling of tranquility. 2. A striped tee will make her Breathless while she does her morning breathing. 3. These barre leggings will keep her legs warm in those big airy studios during long retreats. 4. A fresh green mat will inspire her to do her warrior poses at home.  
Ye Olde Mom 1. Nothing is more old-school than a monogram. 2. This floral scent is nostalgic, but not granny. 3. The classic American game of w... Ye Olde Mom 1. Nothing is more old-school than a monogram. 2. This floral scent is nostalgic, but not granny. 3. The classic American game of wits ... who could resist this vintage version of Scrabble? 4. She's a firm believer that the world was better when people wrote each other handwritten notes.
Foodie Mom 1. Drinking her morning coffee from this elegant French press will be a nice way to start her mornings. Add a bag of her favorite coff... Foodie Mom 1. Drinking her morning coffee from this elegant French press will be a nice way to start her mornings. Add a bag of her favorite coffee and you're set. 2. New York Mouth sources the best edible treats like locally made preserves and chocolates, so it’s an easy way to give her a taste of your neighborhood. 3. A pricey set of personalized cookbooks is a perfect gift to get all your lazy siblings to pitch in on.    
Garden Mom 1. Hand cream will keep her hands feeling as hydrated as her blossoms. 2. Drawing from V&A’s extensive archive of fabrics, this w... Garden Mom 1. Hand cream will keep her hands feeling as hydrated as her blossoms. 2. Drawing from V&A’s extensive archive of fabrics, this watering can uses a pattern that dates back to the sixties and is a colorful alternative to dragging out the garden hose. 3. A pair of streamlined planters will show off her hard work and will look equally good inside or outdoors. 4. Spending hours outside in the hot sun requires a good hat.
Lit Mom 1. Whether it's for breakfast, or a good reading session in bed, she'll make good use of this lucite tray. 2. Give her a monthly reminde... Lit Mom 1. Whether it's for breakfast, or a good reading session in bed, she'll make good use of this lucite tray. 2. Give her a monthly reminder of what a good kid you are: a three-year gift-subscription to her favorite literary magazine. 3. Warby Parker reading glasses for a quirky but smart upgrade from her old reading glasses. 4. Candles (with a lush rose scent) are a beautiful alternative to those unweildy clip on LED reading lights.  
Techno Mom 1. Make her a custom watch with her favorite Instagram photo of the grandkids. 2. Help her keep her real-life desktop clean with a ch... Techno Mom 1. Make her a custom watch with her favorite Instagram photo of the grandkids. 2. Help her keep her real-life desktop clean with a charging temple for all of her favorite gadgets. 3. Lighter, smaller, and faster, this hi-def small tablet will fit in her purse, so she can check TweetDeck on the go. 4. Small and compact, but powerful, this camera is perfect for keeping her Youtube channel up to date.
Gallery Mom 1. A cheeky Lichtenstein water bottle will cheer her up as she works out. 2. Abstract prints from One King's Lane are affordable and... Gallery Mom 1. A cheeky Lichtenstein water bottle will cheer her up as she works out. 2. Abstract prints from One King's Lane are affordable and arrive already beautifully framed. 3. Purple lipstick is an easy way to stand out at the fundraisers. 4. This brass ring holder has a modern shape that will look beautiful on display on her night table.
Golf Mom 1. Personalized golf-club markers organize her clubs and help her focus on more important things, like her swing. 2. She takes her scor... Golf Mom 1. Personalized golf-club markers organize her clubs and help her focus on more important things, like her swing. 2. She takes her scores seriously, so this handy notebook will help her keep track of who's winning. 3. These weighty gold plated tees and markers will make it impossible for anyone on the putting green not to notice her baller style. 4. Sunscreen that will keep her protected and dry all the way to the 18th hole.
Powerhouse Mom 1. She's always running out of battery life on her trips so get her the Mophie charger for her BlackBerry and the Mophie charging ... Powerhouse Mom 1. She's always running out of battery life on her trips so get her the Mophie charger for her BlackBerry and the Mophie charging case for her iPhone. 2. A stingray iPad case is stylish but sleek enough for her to carry into meetings with clients.  3. This Balenciaga scrub is made of Black Caviar, a luxurious splurge for a woman who forgets to treat herself. 4. Since she works all the time, a framed photo of you all together would be a lovely gift for her desk.
Wholefoods Mom 1. Each month she'll receive a tea blend (and discover her next favorite fix) with this tea subscription. 2. A colorful wine-carr... Wholefoods Mom 1. Each month she'll receive a tea blend (and discover her next favorite fix) with this tea subscription. 2. A colorful wine-carrier made of repurposed materials will make it nice and easy for her to carry her organic wines to the next book-club meeting.  3. An organic lavender oil for her to apply on pressure points and chakras when the going gets tough. 4. A tea pot that takes the science of infusion as seriously as she does.
Lady Mom 1. This feminine lilac pouch is an elegant update to her makeup bag. 2. She can keep her favorite essential oil or perfume in any bag o... Lady Mom 1. This feminine lilac pouch is an elegant update to her makeup bag. 2. She can keep her favorite essential oil or perfume in any bag or clutch with this glossy perfume applicator. 3. She'll love throwing on these glittery drop earrings for her next dinner or glamorous event. 4. A modular balsa wood box is perfect for keeping her favorite items organized at her vanity.
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