What to get mom for Christmas? Hmm, it’s an age old question that we all struggle with year after year. There’s a lot of stress associated with shopping for your Mother, as their should be. She brought you into this world. You owe it to her to be thoughtful in your gift.
Hopefully this article will give you some wonderful ideas.
What to Get Mom for Christmas?
I’ve never really been extremely close to my Mum. We are close and we share some similar interests. She is my Mom and I love her. But when Christmas comes trotting around the corner I am always taken back in time. I remember the Christmas tree we would decorate as a family.
I remember the empty space under the tree. When I was old enough to know that Santa Claus did not exist, I joined in charade. We did not want to spoil the fun for my younger brother. I loved playing Santa Claus. It is a joy that still fills me with cheer.
Help her never lose her stuff ever again. Is she forgetful? The Tile device (below) will track anything she values, like her keys, purse, backpack, car, camera…anything!
Amidst everything my mom was always the happiest during the season. She loved shopping for gifts and I guess she passed on that feeling down to me. I love Christmas. I always have. I somehow always find it hard to find the perfect gift for my Mom. She was always the person who went buying gifts for us but I never ever knew what to get mom for Christmas. Years have passed and I still find myself puzzling over what the perfect gift would be.
The answer has never been easy. It has gone from childish cards to homemade gifts. Time passed us by. I grew up and started working. Soon the type of gifts I gave her changed. No matter what I got Mom for Christmas she always said she loved it. That confused me even more. This year I decided to get to the bottom of the problem. I’m going to look at it from all angles and see what I can get Mom for Christmas. This time it is going to be perfect. This time it is going to be something that she will instantly love!
Give the gift of health. A slow masticating juicer (Omega J8006) actually preserves more of the nutrients than a traditional centrifugal juicer. I can’t think of a more thoughtful gift than encouraging your mother to be healthy. But, you may have to nudge her to keep using it.
Can do more than just juicing: Turn nuts into nut butter, extrude pasta, grind coffee and spices, mince herbs and garlic, make baby food, and whip up soy milk in a flash.
Let’s look at her routine. What to Get Mom for Christmas?
When you think about getting someone a gift for Christmas you usually look at their likes and dislikes. You may look at their hobbies. You may even look at what they wear! I’ve done all that before so this time I decided to look at things a little differently. I decided to look at my Mom’s routine. Sounds silly? It isn’t! Bear with me for a bit so I can tell you what I discovered.
The Timeless Vacuum Cleaner
My Mom grumbles a lot especially when it comes to cleaning. Now there was a point of time when I would have let it in from one ear and out the other but things have changed. I have my own house and I have my own family. More importantly I have started grumbling too! With a myriad of people trotting in and out of the house it doesn’t surprise me that she gets irritated. That’s what led me to this discovery… Presenting the vacuum cleaner! It’s not just any old vacuum cleaner. It is a robotic vacuum cleaner.
Be honest, your mom (or dad) doesn’t like to vacuum | iRobot Roomba 650
The one that I zoned in on is the iRobot Roomba 650 Robotic cleaner. It has an iAdapt navigation system and multiple sensors. All that Mom has to do is switch it on and let it do its work. Solves her problem but I wonder if it solves mine. I’m just going to add it to ‘What to get Mom for Christmas’ list. I can narrow down the list much later.
The Tea and the Espresso Maker
Mom always gets up early. Even earlier than Dad! She starts her day by brewing a fresh pot of tea. Then again there are times when she makes coffee instead. The point is that as far as her routine goes her morning beverage is not fixed. That made me think of getting her either an espresso machine or something for her to brew her tea in. I couldn’t quite decide till I stumbled across the Procizion French Press Coffee, Espresso and Tea Maker .
If one multiple function machine could clear some place on her cluttered racks it was definitely going to go on the list. It also helped me make my choice easier. I did not have to choose between coffee and tea when I could have them both. So far my list on what to get Mom for Christmas was doing much better than the previous years.
Let’s bake up some ideas! What to Get Mom for Christmas?
My Mom loves to bake. She makes the most delicious little treats that you can imagine. I still remember whimpering because I had to go off to college and I wouldn’t get to finish the Christmas delicacies. When I reached college and opened my bags I found a secret stash. Mom to the rescue as always!
Last Christmas I noticed that my Mom was using the same old bake ware set that she had when we were kids. The set was all dinged up and I think a few from her collection were missing. That made me think of replacing them with newer versions. I found a number of interesting ones that I really liked.
- The Nordic Ware Leakproof Springform pan: It is simple to use. It even lets you get the cake out of the pan without too much effort. No more worrying about breaking the Christmas cake when you turn the pan upside down. Definitely something to add to the ‘What to get Mom for Christmas’ list.
- The Wilton Non-Stick Whoopie Pie Pan: This pan is perfect for making cupcakes. It definitely saves a lot of time since you can bake 12 cupcakes at a time. My Mom’s old pan could hold only six at one go. I remember the hours she would spend slogging over the oven. This pan could cut that time down by half!
- The Faberware Nonstick Bake ware: I have no idea why but this has always been one of my Mom’s favorite designs as far as molds are concerned. I think it is largely due to the fact that it was one of the most popular moulds when she was young. Needless to say, I added it to the ever growing list of things that I could get her for Christmas.
- The George Foreman GRP48000R Evolve Grill: Mom loves to grill. This is especially so on the days that my Dad can’t barbecue anything. She says that it is the easiest and fastest way to stay healthy. That is why the George Foreman GRP4800R caught my eye. It offers versatility: A grill, a Panini press, a bake dish and even a muffin pan. I loved it as soon as I set my eyes on it. Maybe if I don’t get this for Mom, I may get it for myself!
Anybody can cook great meals quickly using this grill.
Be nice to her plants perhaps? What to Get Mom for Christmas?
I’m not sure whether it is a trend with the older generation or not but my Mom has suddenly taken a very keen interest in gardening. She gets together with her friends and discusses the different flowers that have bloomed and the different planters that she has found. It appeals to the creative side of her and she keeps trying to do something different. I must say that she is doing a pretty good job of it.
Beautiful Wood Amish Wagon Planter.
My Mom is currently trying the old farmhouse look in her garden. She wants everything to look as natural as possible. As a result all the plastic planters have been banished. Since she is fascinated by this new idea, I decided to take a look and see if I could get her some planters that would go with theme. That is how I found the vertical log planter. It is quaint and makes it look like the plant is growing from the stump of an old tree.
I even found some wooden barrel planters that looked like old crates or boxes. They would look perfect along the wall next to the house. In fact the wooden planters come in a set of three and that makes it so much easier to order. I may just need to go and measure the wall to find out how many Mom would need.
Stylish Wood Barrel Planters
Features:
- Includes: Large 20.5″x 12″ x 10″, Medium 19″ x 10″ x 8.5″, Small 16″ x 7″ x 6.25″
- Weatherproof : Frost resistant, mould resistant, moisture proof, & insect resistant.
- Includes pre-drilled holes. Good for both indoor and outdoor use
Down Memory lane. What to Get Mom for Christmas?
Another approach that I chose to use was by going down memory lane. It reminded me of a time when we used to decorate the house together. She loved it. It was a tradition that I inherited from her. When I got married, my Mom packed a handful of Christmas decorations for me to start my very own Christmas tradition. Every time I hang those decorations up I think of her. That is what made me add Christmas decorations to my ‘What to get Mom for Christmas?’ list.
The decorations couldn’t be anything simple. They needed to be unique. That was what would make them special. Sure Mom loves all kinds of decorations but if I had to wow her then I had to plan well. Take a look at some of my finds.
Decorating the…uh…Toilet…
We do tend to put Christmas decorations in some very unusual places but my Mom loves to ensure that every room has a Christmas touch. This includes the toilet. She usually hangs a Christmas wreath on the door and places some Christmas. I found some novel ways to give the room a Christmas touch.
The Santa Toilet seat cover and rug.
The Santa restroom door cover is a great item to have for parties. It’s a simple product but looks great on your bathroom door. And the Christmas themed hand towels has a decorative image of a snowman embroidered on it. Decorating your home takes a lot of work and these gifts are perhaps better suited to give to your mom prior to Christmas so your family will have an opportunity to enjoy them in the weeks leading up to Christmas.
Christmas Decorations For The Rest Of The House
As I have said before, my mother’s collection of Christmas decorations has been growing for years. To find something that she doesn’t have is almost impossible. I however was willing to give it a shot. Venturing out from the toiletries section I decided to look for novel Christmas decorations for the rest of the house.
I found some really nice dining chair back covers. All you have to do is slip these over the back of the chairs. It fits like a second skin and gives the chair a Christmas outfit for the season. It made me wonder if I could make some for her too. I know my Mom loves a personal touch. Well it is a point to ponder on at a later time and date.
I even found a great Santa Claus and reindeer decal that I know she would love. I’m just not sure if my Dad would be okay with her sticking it on the wall. Knowing my Mom she would find a way to get around that. I’m just going to add it to my ‘What to get for Mom for Christmas list’ anyway.
My Mom loves angels. She has them up all over the house. In fact I think she believes that there is no such thing as too many angels at Christmas. She used to laugh and say that God gifted her two devils (read me and my brother) so she tries to compensate! I found a few angels that would look good in her collection. One particular one stood out. It was an intricately designed angel curio box. I knew she would love it! So it went into my wish list immediately!
Beautiful Kurt Adler Christmas Nutcracker
And for the Christmas tree, tin dancing angels will add a little flare to your tinsel and lights.
Last but not the least I found a few pillows that she could add to her ever growing collection. One was a really nice one with a great looking snowman on it. The others had a variety of Christmas quotes and sayings.
What to Get Mom for Christmas? Glancing through her hobbies
Mom has always been an inspiration. She multitasks and she does everything with meticulous precision. Her hobbies aren’t very diverse but she is extremely good with the needle. Various needles for that matter! She crochets (something that I learned from her when I was 5), she knits, she quills, she yarns and the list goes on and on. In fact when I think of her and hobbies, I can’t really put my finger on which one she loves best. Though embroidery and crochet are pretty high on that list!
BOOK: A to Z of Crochet: The Ultimate Guide for the Beginner to Advanced Crocheter
While making a list of possible Christmas gifts I had to consider her hobbies. Take a look at what I found out.
Crochet needle sets: One can never have too many crochet needles. That is something my mother always said and it is something that I have found myself repeating.
Crochet pattern books: The interesting thing about books is that you can never have too many of them. An avid crochet enthusiast runs through patterns easily and fast. This means that the person keeps searching for new ideas. I found a book on crochet squares that was particularly interesting. The squares can be easily joined together to give various patterns. This makes it a flexible and innovative way to crochet. It also makes the patterns in the book more long lasting than the usual pattern books.
If your mom is more traditional then she’ll love: The Complete Book of Crochet Stitch Designs: 500 Classic & Original Patterns
- The yarn storage bag: Yarn always tends to get tangled and mixed up. Finding a bag that can store it safely is tricky.
- Sewing Machine (SINGER 4411): My Mom loves to tinker around with her clothes and ours. Her sewing machine is pretty old. Of late Dad has been telling me that he has had to repair it more times than he cared to. That’s what spurred me to think of a replacement.
- Embroidery Machine (Brother PE770)
- Spools of embroidery machine thread
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Large embroidery hoops (10″ embroidery hoop)
- 18 different sizes of bamboo knitting needles
- A yarn bowl: Love this particular one. It ensures that the yarn does not roll away. When we were younger Mom used to make us run to catch the runaway yarn. We had to do it before the dog pounced on it or the yarn was history. It still makes me smile when I think of it.
- Quiling kits and quiling books
What to Get Mom for Christmas? The need to read!
Both my Mom and my Dad love to read. It is one hobby that they share. However there is one big difference. Mom loves to keep her books. Dad on the other hand keeps insisting that there is no space in the house for them. So while Mom hoards Dad secretly loans the books to others to read. Not many of them return back home. This infuriates my Mom.
In order to solve this problem, I thought of giving Mom a kindle for Christmas. That way she could keep collecting her books and she would have them at reach anytime she wanted. It also would help safe guard her collection from Dad. He wouldn’t be able to loan her favorites out any more. I do however sense an issue that could materialize here. How would both of them read at the same time? Hmmmm…. Maybe I should get a Kindle for Dad too!
Four Kindle models to choose from:
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Kindle (Basic model — and cheapest)
- 6″, Wi-Fi
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Kindle Paperwhite
- 6″ High-Resolution Display (300 ppi) with Built-in Light, Wi-Fi
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Kindle Voyage
- 6″ High-Resolution Display (300 ppi) with Adaptive Built-in Light, PagePress Sensors, Wi-Fi.
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Kindle Oasis
- Leather Charging Cover, 6″ High-Resolution Display (300 ppi), built-in adjustable light Wi-F.
I found a few cases that looked really cool. One case even claimed to be the thinnest and lightest leather case in the market!
This is an aside since this is an article on Christmas gifts for mom but Amazon also has a cool kids Kindle bundle with some great features like these:
- Set reading goals and track progress with Kindle FreeTime.
- Kid-friendly cover (different colors available).
- Zero distractions – unlike other digital devices, Kindle is designed just for reading.
- Improve your kids vocabulary with built-in tools like Word Wise and Vocabulary Builder.
What to Get Mom for Christmas? Remind her of something never wants to forget!
There are so many options when it comes to looking through gifts that would fit her hobbies. That is possibly because she has so many hobbies. I needed to think a little out of the box. I started wondering what my mom cherished. That’s when I realized that like all parents the thing she really cherished were memories. That led me to two options: Present her with a memento of an old memory or gift her a new one to treasure.
Photographic Memories
If your mother doesn’t have a camera then you might want to consider that as a gift. From my experience, when people have an easy-to-use camera they take way more pictures. I personally love taking pictures so I’m biased but I do feel a need to preserve those special moments in life. A good camera like the Panasonic LUMIX DMC-ZS60 will take excellent photos and videos.
Finding photographs of old memories is not hard. Picking just one or two from the whole pile is another ball game all together. When I stumble across something like this I prefer to make a collage and put everyone’s best photographs together. That way everyone is happy and the outcome is unique. With that done I then have to scout for a big enough photo frame to fit them all.
I found some large frames that could be used for a collage. One could house four photographs at a time. It all depended on the number of photographs that I wanted to cram into the gift. In my opinion more than four photographs definitely meant I would need to go for a large frame. My husband suggested a collage on the wall. This meant using different framed photographs so that my Mom could form her own collage while using the wall as her canvas. This 7-frame set at Amazon looks great on the wall.
Another option that I stumbled on was restoring old photographs that have been lying around the house for years. I thought I would do that and put them in a nice new album that Mom could cherish forever. That started a hunt for photograph albums. They are a dying trend with the number of people storing their photographs digitally. I still managed to come up with quite a few finds.
- The Happiness themed album.
- The Family Leatherette cover album
- The Live Laugh Love album
What to Get Mom for Christmas? Jewelry
I guess we get our love for jewelry and trinkets from our mothers. My Mom has been collecting all sorts of trinkets from the time she was very young. As a child I have broken quite a number of her favorite necklaces when I played dress up. I’m sure it broke her heart but she rarely ever said anything about it. She still collects jewelry and every now and then she sends some for me. Getting her some for her collection is not a bad idea. I browsed a little through the jewelry on Amazon and I found a few things that I’m sure Mom would love!
I love these Kate Spade New York Swan Clear Stud Earrings. These are very unique earrings that will make mom sparkle for those special events. Or maybe she’ll want to wear them daily. Who knows?
While I was on the same trend of thought I thought about how Mom struggles to store her trinkets. I stumbled across some very cute music jewelry boxes that would help her out. They were definitely worth adding to the ‘What to get Mom for Christmas’ list.
This box plays “Wind Beneath My Wings” and has a slot in the top for your own photo which makes this a personal gift that I’m sure mom will love.
What to Get Mom for Christmas? Making her laugh!
Sometimes the gift doesn’t have to be emotional or sentimental. Sometimes the gift can just evoke a laugh loud enough to shake the rafters. It’s the kind of laugh that comes straight from the belly. There are times when I feel those gifts are the best gifts. Unfortunately it is really difficult to find gifts that can elicit that reaction.
A Mug With A Crazy Quote
I found this mug with a quote that read ‘I love how we don’t need to say it out loud that I’m your favorite child’. The mug is simple but the words had me cracking up every time I read them. It is something that would give both Dad and Mom a hearty laugh. I found another mug that read ‘I’m A Mom. What’s Your Superpower?’. Well as kids we always thought that our parents had superpowers. They could fix anything that went wrong and they were always there when we needed them. So in a way the mug really fits the bill.
Sometimes simple is best which is why I like this mug with the words “Mom” and the quote “A mother holds her children’s hand for a while…their hearts forever.” I like it because it’s stylish and looks good for any occasion.
What to Get Mom for Christmas? The hamper!
Sometimes finding the best Christmas gift for Mom may get more complicated because you don’t really have that much money to spend. The thought is still there and you still want to give your Mom the best but don’t know how. One idea that I came up with a few years ago has always been a big hit. I call it the Christmas hamper.
All that it takes is an assortment of small cute gifts and a nice big basket. The small gifts could range from your Mom’s favorite chocolates to the tiny earrings you found at the flea market. It doesn’t matter what goes in it. There are times when I wrap each gift individually and then place it in the hamper. Sometimes when I don’t have much time, I put them all together in a basket (make sure that they are well displayed) and tie it up with wrapping paper and a ribbon.
Times have passed and years have gone by but the tradition of giving gifts has still stayed very much alive. My mother passed a very important message through the years. She taught me that there is more joy found in searching for the perfect gift than there is in receiving the perfect gift. Now that the tables are turned and she is growing old, I wonder if I need to take her hand and help her. Her bones must creak when she wanders through the markets alone. I sigh and wonder what to get Mom for Christmas. Maybe being her companion on her shopping sprees will bring more joy than any gift I could buy. Maybe I will just fly home before hand and help her out. Maybe…