Once again, the seasons of giving has arrived! As Christmas approaches, it’s time to prepare gifts for our friends and loved ones. I’ve always enjoyed the process of preparing gifts thinking of how happy my loved ones will be when they receive them:)
But it also got me thinking… What do I want for this year’s Christmas? What do moms really want for their Christmas gifts?
As a mom, I realized I became more practical than I was, and very often the lines blur between me and my kids.
Think about it… When you’re buying a gift for a fellow mom, especially one with a baby or toddler, how often do you end up buying a gift that’s actually meant for the child or something that’s related to parenting? For example, a cute outfit for the baby. How often do we actually prepare a gift that’s actually for the mom herself?
I mean… I’m very happy to receive those gifts and really appreciate those thoughts… Of course, I’d love to see my baby/toddler dressed cutely. Such gifts also help to save costs and make parenting easier, especially if it’s a parenting product that a more experienced mom would find useful.
This happens both ways and we’re so used to it. Just recently when my husband asked me what I wanted for my birthday gift, I actually told him… that Dyson vacuum cleaner which I’ve been eyeing for a long time.
Being a mom is a big part of who we are. But we are more than that!
So this Christmas, let’s try to bring the focus back to ourselves. If you’re a mom who’s been so used to putting your kids and family before you, pause for a moment and think about what you really want as your Christmas gift. It’s nice to receive a gift that we really do want, and it’s time to pamper ourselves.
I have come up with a list of Christmas gift ideas for moms. Some of them are from my own wish-list while some are what I already have and thought other fellow moms would like and enjoy.
Here’s Our List of 10 Best Christmas Gifts for Moms:
- Some Time for Herself (Away from the Kids)
Having some time off from the kids is a good way to get re-charged. It could be a morning away from the kids, or an evening date with the husband complete with paid baby-sitting.
Or simply, just to sleep. Undisturbed nap is a luxury for a mom, especially if you have a baby or toddler. Sleeping-in late for the morning is also something that I’ve not done in the recent years. And how about throwing in a breakfast served in bed?
- Spa Treats
It may not be always workable to head out for a spa, but you can always bring the spa experience to her home.
There are many luxurious spa basket kit out in the market that every woman would love (but may not be willing to spend and buy it herself).
Alternatively, you can mix and match your favourite items to create a customized Home Spa gift basket comprising of bath bombs, body scrub, face and body mask, and bath salts…
The list can continue as long as your budget allows.
There are also many DIY ideas for bath salts, scrubs, lotions… Pinterest has it all. Here are some recipes and ideas to try:
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/203295370662933555/
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/298856125257886061/
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/255579347581514779/
- Tea Set or Coffee Mug
Depending on whether she is a tea lover or a coffee drinker, how about getting her a nice porcelain tea set or a coffee mug?
Remind her to set aside some time for herself to unwind and relax by enjoying a good book over a cup of tea or coffee. She can even enjoy a small tea party with her kids with this vintage tea set.
There are many funny coffee mugs on Amazon to choose from or you can even customize one with an inspirational or humorous quote.
- A Good Book
If you know who her favorite author is, you may want to get her the latest publication.
Or you can check out some of my recommendations:
The Joy Luck Club: A Novel by Amy Tan – Heartfelt stories about mother-daughter relationships.
The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing by Marie Kondō – Decluttering the home leads to a calmer mind. This is a good way to prepare for the coming year.
Raising Cain: Protecting the Emotional Life of Boys by Dan Kindlon, Ph.D., and Michael Thompson, Ph.D. – Great insights for moms to understand how their boys view and feel the world differently.
Goddesses in Everywoman: Powerful Archetypes in Women’s Lives by Jean Shinoda Bolen – Intriguing book on women’s psychology.
- Gift Cards
Let’s admit it… gift cards are great! Top it up with a heart-felt card to add a personal touch.
You can select from her favorite brands and stores, especially if you know that there’s something that she really likes, but hasn’t been willing to splurge on.
If all fails, you can always fall back on the reliable Amazon gift card. I wouldn’t complain to receive one… and there’s always something I can buy from Amazon.
- Himalayan Salt Lamp
Not only are they amazing for relaxation and meditation, they’re great decorative items in the living area.
I’m usually very sensitive to lights when I sleep but I find the Himalayan salt lamp particularly tranquil and peaceful for night feeding. You can consider placing it near the nursery glider or by your bed. The salt lamp is said to provide air purification properties as well.
If she’s a WAHM, the Himalayan lamp can also find a place on her work desk as it is supposed to release negative ions, which help to fight the fatigue and headaches that are so commonly associated with long hours of exposure to electronic devices.
- Personalized Bracelet or Necklace
No woman will say no to jewelry, what more if it is personalized and memorable.
You can consider getting a charm bracelet or a necklace pendant that allows you to personalize it.
There are designs that allow you to engrave the names and/or encase birthstones of loved ones.
If she’s someone who likes to keep photos as keepsake, you can also consider a necklance pendent that allows you to engrave the picture or a locket pendant to fit a photo inside:
- Slow Juicer
(P.S. I’m trying hard to reduce my caffeine intake…)
Slow juicing is increasingly popular due to its health benefits. And of course, the juice taste better!
As suggested by the name, a slow juicer runs at a low speed of 80 rpm (vs a typical juicer speed of 1,650 – 15,000 rpm). The low speed and temperature preserves the natural vitamins, minerals and enzymes present in the fruits and vegetables, and also retain more of the fibre and pulp to make it a wholesome drink.
It can extract up to 35% more juice, so you can save costs on the ingredients and minimize wastage.
The gentle and slow grinding also prevents oxidation by reducing the froth and foam. Juice from a slow juicer can be stored longer without degradation. If you were to compare 2 glasses of juice and allow them to sit, you’ll see that the juice from your typical juicer will separate into layers, while the one from the slow juicer will remain homogenous.
By the way, check out the longest review I’ve ever seen on a juicer…
- BabyBjorn Travel Crib
If she loves to travel, the BabyBjörn travel crib is a must-have! Having a baby should not stop a mom from traveling. However, a baby’s sleep routine and sleep arrangements is usually a major consideration. With the travel crib, you can be assured that your baby will have a safe sleeping environment.
The travel crib is very lightweight, compact, and easy to set up. It’s great for both road trips and flights. She can now, at a moment’s notice, stay over at grandma’s over the festive seasons without worries.
The only downside is that you need to check it in for flights as it is bigger than the allowed hand-carry dimension.
You can read more about our detailed review here.
- Multi-Use Instant Pot
It can be used as a pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice cooker, sauté, steamer, yogurt maker and warmer. Yes, you read that right! I was amazed too when I first found out about it…
It not only helps to save a lot of costs as it takes on 7 roles in the kitchen, but more importantly it helps to save time for the busy moms!
She’ll be able to prepare wholesome, warm and healthy meals at a fraction of the usual time required. There’s also a delay start timer so that she can prepare in advance, program the cooker to cook at the designated time and have her meal ready just in time as she planned!
Hopefully this list of Christmas gift ideas have been useful to you, whether you’re shopping for a fellow mom friend, for your mom, for your wife, or even for yourself:)
A very Merry Christmas to you and your loved ones!
