Mother’s Day is fast approaching: are you looking to do a little bit better than the perfunctory card and flowers? Something she is sure to remember and makes her special day meaningful? This guide is all you are going to need to give you the best ideas for this Mother’s Day. Whether it is buying a meaningful gift or a relaxing spa day experience, these options cover it all.

Customized Coupons

This is the chance to find something unique and individual your mom will appreciate. Skip the “free hug” fillers and write in things that actually mean something. Doing the dishes for a week, making her favorite breakfast in bed, handling a chore that she always has to ask twice for. The more specific and real it is, the better it lands. This idea is simultaneously thoughtful and inexpensive. 

Spa Gift Card 

After a long and stressful week, all a mom wants is a calming experience at a spa, a place where she can spend hours without having to worry about her responsibilities or do anything for anyone but relax. She is sure to love the day, whether it be relaxing in the mediation room, using the sauna or getting a soothing facial followed by a leisurely lunch. Local spas to choose from range from The Spa at Torrey Pines to The Spa at Rancho Bernardo Inn. This is sure to be the cure for the “I feel so tired and need a break” mantra that is running through her head. If you want to personalize it even more, call ahead and get her favorite drink sent to her, whether that is a matcha latte or a passionfruit iced tea.

Books

This is your chance to give your mom a personalized and thoughtful gift.  Think about what she talks about wanting to learn or experience, and then find the book that meets her there. If she is always talking about visiting Japan, get her a travel book or a narrative about Japanese culture. If she is into cooking and wants to branch out? Consider a Mediterranean cookbook, a how-to make dumpling guide or a baking book from the chef she watches on a baking show every night. For the mom who has been stressed lately and is always saying she wants to slow down, find a book on mindfulness, gardening or meditation that fits into the way she thinks. A book says you know what she is interested in beyond just being your mom. 

Skincare

Simple, useful and something she will use every day. Skip the generic drugstore option and upgrade to a nicer brand or something a bit more luxurious. Lotions, face masks and eye creams are simple skincare items that make her daily routine a little more special. It shows that you are thinking about her day to day life. Moms often prioritize everyone else first, so a gift like this feels intentional. It is something she might not go out of her way to get for herself, which makes it even more appreciated. 

Hobby Gifts

Gifts that connect to your mother’s hobbies show how you are interested and want to support her passions. Moms who enjoy fitness or staying active might appreciate items like running shorts, yoga tops or a new tennis bag, while for moms whose expertise is arts and crafts, simple supplies like new markers, sketch pads or stencils can go a long way. If your mom enjoys cooking or baking, go for a new cookbook or unique ingredients she would not normally buy for herself, like infused olive oils, flavored salts or unique jams.  

Food Gifts

An easy go-to that cannot go wrong is, of course, food. Think of one of her favorite foods and take it to the next level. For the mom who loves Italian food, take a trip down to Little Italy and make a basket of fresh pasta, sauces, prosciutto and parmesan cheese. If New York deli is her style, find a local shop to ship her favorite bagel along with black and white cookies. If she has more of a sweet tooth, go to Sidecar Donuts in the Del Mar Highlands Town Center and pick out a half-dozen assortment of interesting flavors or go to The Cheesecake Factory and choose one she loves. 

Mother’s Day comes once a year, but the effort behind the gift stays with her a lot longer than just the day itself. A thoughtful present does not require a big budget, it just requires knowing your mom well enough to pick something that feels like it was meant for her specifically. Whether it is a spa day she would never book for herself, a cookbook for the cuisine she has always wanted to learn, or a plate of her favorite food from down the street, the right gift is somewhere on this list.