Get Mom What She Really Wants: 12 Gift Ideas to Make Her Life Easier

In case you are in the dark about this, let me let you in on a little secret: moms are busy people. There are probably all kinds of great gift ideas that might be more romantic or luxurious than the ones I'm about to recommend, but if you really care about making a mom feel truly happier, lighter and supported, I think these are some ideas worth considering.

And before we go any further, let me preface by saying that unless otherwise mentioned, I am in no way affiliated with any company I recommend here. With the exception of my own classes, I'm not getting a commission on any of these products or services. These are just my honest personal suggestions for things that have worked for me and other moms I know.

Now, let's get right to it:

1. Vitamix blender

- These gadgets are pricey, but worth it. There are few things in our homes that have so many uses as a Vitamix does. This blender great for smoothies which, if you’re as busy as I am (and what mom isn’t?), this is a great way to make sure you get your breakfast and/or fruits and veggies into your day. It’s also great for making baby food, blending soups and salsas, grinding coffee, even making your own nut butters. You could probably get rid of several kitchen gadgets and just use this one--I’m all for reducing clutter. Plus, I’ve heard of people that have owned the same Vitamix blender for more than 20 years and it’s still as powerful as it was when they first got it. Talk about a good investment! Prices start at $199 on Vitamix’s website. (And if you’re price shopping, make sure you’re comparing apples to apples. For example, I’ve seen them for cheaper at Costco, but they also make them with a slightly less powerful engine just for Costco so that they can offer them at a lower price. This may make no difference to you--just something to be aware of.) https://www.vitamix.com/Shop

2. A good water bottle

- Because I, for one, often forget to drink until I'm already dehydrated. And, I can’t be the only one. Go for a glass or stainless steel one, since plastic ones always have a risk of leaking chemicals and often have multiple parts like straws or leak guards that can be hard to get clean. Not to mention plastic ones are more likely to take on the smells of your dirty dishwater or dish soap (gross). Glass ones are easiest to clean, but they’re also heavier and obviously somewhat fragile. If you want a glass one, this is the brand I love for their modern styling and variety of sizes: http://www.mybkr.com/shop/#/shop

3. Yoga Classes at Herself Moms

- (This recommendation only works for Sacramento-area moms, but if you’re not local, jump down to number 4.) I can’t say enough good things about Herself Moms, and not just because it happens to be where I hold several of my classes and workshops. They have a variety of yoga classes all tailored specifically for the prenatal or postpartum mom. So, whether the goal is to have a healthy pregnancy, get ready for labor, or reconnect with and rejuvenate the postpartum body, Herself Moms has got you covered. And many classes invite you to bring your littles along! You can purchase a 4-, 8-, or 12-class pass starting at $50. http://herselfmoms.com/

4. Online Yoga Programs

- This can be a great affordable gift idea that offers mom some self-care at her convenience. There are a variety of program options out there. Two reputable ones that I like are Cody and YogaGlo. Both sites attract some of the biggest names in the yoga world, like Seane Corne, Noah Maze, Jason Crandell, and Kathryn Budig (all with YogaGlo), and Kino MacGregor, Meghan Currie, Ana Forrest, Briohny Smith, and Sri Dharma Mittra (on Cody). YogaGlo is a membership site, with fees of $18 a month for unlimited access (and if you’re local to the Santa Monica area, you can go to a class in person). Cody functions a little bit differently, in that you actually buy a themed bundle of classes featuring a specific instructor for a flat price, and you get lifetime access to any purchased (and some free) courses, as well as access to their online community to post your workouts and connect with other yogis. They also have an app for phones and tablets. Bundle prices typically start at $19.99. Check them out at https://www.yogaglo.com/ and

Not sure about the benefits of yoga? Check out this detailed article https://www.jenreviews.com/yoga/

5. Gift Membership to an Online Food Delivery service

- This would be such a life saver for any mom. Groceries delivered with all the prep work done? Sign me up! Blue Apron, HelloFresh or Thrive Market are some good options. With both Blue Apron and HelloFresh, you shop based on the meals you want to make each week and they provide you with recipe cards and all the prepped ingredients. To do a gift membership with Blue Apron, you select the number of weeks you want the service to run (available in 1-week, 2-week, and 4-week options), the number of meals you want to provide, and the size of the family and it is priced accordingly. With HelloFresh, you can send a gift card good toward one box of food--the amount depends on whether you select the “Classic," “Veggie” or “Family” plan. Thrive Market is a bit different in that it is basically a health food store that happens to be online. They carry mostly pantry items, household items, vitamins and supplements, and bath & body items, all with an organic and natural bent at a discounted price. (Think affordable Whole Foods delivered to your door.) So, if you know a health-conscious mom who likes versatility, this might be the way to go. But to have access to their good prices, you need a membership. You can gift someone a 1-year membership for $59.95, and for every membership purchased, they donate one to a low-income family, teacher or veteran. Love that! You can compare options for each online store here: https://www.blueapron.com/gifts , https://www.hellofresh.com/tasty/gift-landing/ , https://thrivemarket.com/thrive-market-1-year-membership

6. Printable Life Planner

- You can find tons of printable planners on Etsy, but my favorite one is by Secret OWL Society. This designer really thought of everything. And, I love that you can print out as many pages as you need and create your own binder. Preschooler scribbled all over your December agenda? Need to rework your schedule? No problem, just reprint. This particular planner is especially great for the self-employed mom, with the pages for goal and habit tracking, and blog and social media planning, but really this planner could work for anyone. Check it out here: https://www.etsy.com/listing/465356577/ultimate-life-binder-planner-budget-blog?ref=shop_home_feat_1

7. Crock Pot

- “Set it and forget it” dinners. Enough said. You can find one for as low as $12.99, but for a family, I’d opt for one that holds at least 4-6 quarts.

8. Bath Bombs

- For the mom that really needs a break, but just can’t seem to get it, why not encourage a spa day at home? This is a great option for a gift-giver on a budget. For a total sensory experience, I love the bath bombs at LUSH: http://www.lushusa.com/bath/bath-bombs/

9. Makeup to make her look great in a hurry

- This might vary from mom to mom, but I find that the stuff that makes me look awake, healthy and energized are my go-to’s. For me, that’s BB cream and blush. And for when I have a little extra time or need a touch more polish, mascara and lipstick (it’s actually pretty amazing how much just those two can make your eyes look brighter and more perked up). Garnier’s BB Cream makes color selection easy and the coverage is pretty good. It’s also affordable. And, NARS powder blush in orgasm looks good on just about anyone. It’s pricey, but worth it and lasts a long time ($30 on Sephora.com). Mascara and lipstick might boil down to personal preference, but you can’t go wrong with a classic red lip in my opinion. When in doubt, opt for a Sephora gift card. http://www.sephora.com/giftcards?icid2=gifts_giftcard_link

10. Buy her and a friend pedicures

- You can swap out “pedicures” for any other self-care activity you want...a yoga class, a wine and painting night, a desserts-only date. Whatever suits the mom in mind. The real goal here is to kill two birds with one stone by providing her with some much needed self-care and some social time all in one. Because she really, really needs both.

11. A Happy With Baby workshop

- Shameless plug here, but I wouldn’t do it if I didn’t really think that it’ll be a sanity saver for any new mom. I’ve got my “Relationship Survival for Baby’s First Year” workshop coming up for January, as well as a Calm Moms Group Therapy series. And, my Finding Calm workshop in February. Why not kick off 2017 right?

12. Offer Your Time

- When in doubt, time is something almost anyone can give. And it costs you nothing. You can even make cute little coupons, if you want an actual thing to hand to her. Offer to babysit so she can have a date night with her partner or girlfriends. Offer to hold the baby so she can take a nap. Offer to feed the kids dinner so she can finish her own holiday shopping. Whatever it takes. Show her she is supported.

Well, what do you think? Do any ideas stand out to you for a mom you know (or maybe for yourself)? What ideas would YOU add to the list? I'd love to hear about it in the comments below.