The Really Good Mother’s Day Gift Guide

Send this to your spouse and hope for the best.

Apr 26, 2025

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-16:25

Mother’s Day is my Super Bowl.

I’m not sure how or why it surpassed my birthday (which is no easy feat), but I do not play around when it comes to this day.

Against popular opinion, I opt out of all youth sports commitments on Mother’s Day. I always feel terrible and genuinely appreciate the moms who get flowers for the kids to hand out and all that—but I want to enjoy the day myself. I also want to make the day special for my mom.

My husband and I have an unspoken rule: no surprise gifts. However, the lines get blurry. Every few years—possibly during leap years under a full moon—I’ll hit him with one of the following classics:

“I want nothing for Mother’s Day.”
“Get me whatever you want… surprise me.”

Every time I do this, I know he knows in his soul that it’s a trap. A few years ago, I pulled this on Valentine’s Day. He took it literally, and I was, ironically, shook when there was no grand surprise.

Sometimes I think saying “I want nothing” is code for:
YES, I want something.
YES, it should be GREAT.
YES, it should be thoughtful.
YES, you should surprise me.

Spoiler alert: the “surprise me” strategy never works in our house. One year he went all out and got me a bunch of surprise gifts—because that’s what I said I wanted. Let’s just say it didn’t go well. He tried his best, and I sulked. If you know me you know I am not a poker player.

So now, we go with the ultra-romantic strategy of texting each other direct links to the exact thing we want. Honestly? It’s a win-win. He knows what to buy, and I get to enjoy a Mother’s Day free of repeating, “No one appreciates me,” on loop.

I haven’t told him what I want yet. I actually think we both forgot it’s creeping up so soon. Luckily, shipping from the stores in this gift guide is pretty quick. This guide is a list of things I would be thrilled to receive. Some I already own—which I’ll mention—and others I’m hoping will magically appear.

I told my husband he has to read the guide and pick something out. Then I confused him further by saying, “Some of these I already own, so pay attention.”

Let’s just say... I’ll be sending him a few direct links shortly.

Drawings of me by my children. When my daughter told me the first one was me I considered calling 911.

I do not want…

I was thinking a bit about what I don’t want for Mother’s Day. Now, listen—I'm a nobody. My opinion doesn’t matter. And if something I mention here is something you’ve been longing for, I SALUTE YOU. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that. Like I said, for some unknown reason, this is my Super Bowl. I expect it to be grand, I expect it to be over-the-top, and I am typically out of touch with my expectations.

My kids are 10 and 7, I think. Yes, 10 and 7. I don’t know why the second one’s age always throws me off. It’s like when the doctor’s office asks for their birth years and my mind just... blanks. I need a solid five minutes to compute.

I do not want a poem from my husband. That does nothing for me. Your haiku writing skills would be better used in a different way. A new gold watch? That does.
I do not want a breakfast coupon from my husband that says “IOU Breakfast in Bed.”
My kids? Sure—that’s adorable.
But from my spouse? Absolutely not.

I do not want a video montage or tribute. My husband takes approximately zero photos or videos of me in a calendar year. So it would literally be one ugly picture of me on repeat. On vacation, I have to remind him to take at least one photo of me with the kids to prove I was alive during that time. He’ll quickly snap the worst possible photo of me, which must be deleted immediately. And yes, I know—“keep all the photos, even the bad ones, one day you’ll miss them”—but when I resemble Shamu the Whale, I’m gonna go with no.

I do not want flowers. I can’t keep them alive, and I don’t appreciate them the way some people do. My mom? She loves them. They bring her so much joy! Me? I see them as one more responsibility I will absolutely fail at. As a kid, I had six hamsters. For some reason, I named all six of them “Little Dude.” I was not responsible enough to keep those little dudes alive, and 37 years later, I still can’t be trusted with a bouquet of tulips.

I do not want a cookbook. Everyone knows I can’t cook, and I have zero desire to learn. I can grill chicken, microwave some Steamfresh veggies, and toss naan in the oven. Anything beyond that is asking too much. I am known to ruin perfectly good pasta and have, on more than one occasion, put plastic in the oven.

I do not want a practical gift. Yes, I need AirTags. I lose everything. It’s useful. It makes sense. BUT DO NOT GET IT FOR ME.

Let’s start by acknowledging that for some moms, this is their first Mother’s Day. It might also be the first Mother’s Day after years of trying, or after loss. So if all you want this year is something that says “Mom” on it… I get it. I see you, and I love you.

For me, my kids are older now. There was a time when I would’ve loved a shirt that said “MAMA” or “CAM’S MOM”—but that time has passed. These days, I don’t want a hat or sweatshirt that announces my motherhood to strangers without me first conducting a full FBI-level background check. Some days, I’d prefer not to be known as Mom at all—or hear my name “Mom” called for the 5,000th time while my kids are in the basement playing video games. I run down to see if they’re okay… and they ask me what the temperature is outside.

And finally, the most important thing:
I do not want nothing.
I will say I want nothing.
Please, men across the universe: when we say that—we are lying.
We want something. We expect something.

And if you truly are a mom who wants absolutely nothing? You’re the gold standard of human beings, and I give you full permission to judge me and this entire post.

So take a look at this guide. If there’s anything that jumps out at you, share it with your spouse! OR, sometimes my mom and I like to go out and buy ourselves gifts for random occasions. We call these gifts “to me, love me,” and honestly, I couldn’t support that more. If you’re buying for your own mom or a mother figure in your life, I hope this can help inspire you as well!

Luxury Items (Over $300)

These items are for the high rollers out there looking to really splurge on their lovely ladies. If you’re buying this for your OWN mom—well, let’s just say she is ONE lucky Mom!

01 | Longchamp Bag: This just looked adorable and different. I have a regular one, but this one seemed fancy and beachy.
02, 03 | Toteme & Polène Bags: Both of these bags have been on my radar for a long time. Super classic, but a bit more subtle than your typical Chanel. We can call them examples of understated luxury.
04| Redlight Mask: Because Botox is expensive. Any little bit of assistance helps.
05| HigherDOSE: I want a sauna so badly. There’s nothing I love more than letting hot water scald my body in the shower. So why not get a blanket that helps me sweat out the two pounds of coffee ice cream I ate after dinner? (Just kidding. Maybe.) But really—saunas are all the rage and have so many health benefits. I don’t think they help you remember to turn off your curling iron, but I still feel like this could be the thing that finally fixes my life.
06| Oura Ring: One of my coworkers has an Oura ring, and we love comparing her nights of beauty sleep vs. utter sleep chaos. I recently stopped wearing my Apple Watch. So yes, if you still wear yours, I am now superior. (Just kidding. Kinda.) I’m not sure why I stopped—I don’t miss the feeling of always being “on” and accessible, but I do miss the health data! You can get ring sizers to find your perfect fit.

07| Bamboo Handle Bag: I have this exact bag from Mark & Graham, and honestly—I love it. Mine has my initials monogrammed on it, and it’s REALLY a quality piece. I thought their website was a joke when my husband got it for me… but then I looked closer and realized they’re basically the Louis Vuitton of personalized gifts. Think Personalization Mall—but riding in a Mercedes.
Here’s the exact bamboo bag linked above! I love it.
08| Cuyana Tote: Apparently Meghan Markle is a fan. That may sway you to love it—or utterly hate it. But my very chic colleague has it, and it’s beautiful. Plus, my favorite IG influencer (ThingsIBoughtAndLiked)—who has NEVER failed me with a recommendation—also swears by this premium-quality bag.
Royalty, but make it a Cuyana bag.

Mid-Range Items ($100-300)

Let’s shop in the mid-range section! There are so many good snags here for yourself or the lovely mother(s) in your life.

10 | Bamboo Cross Body Bag – A mini and cute bag for summer! Perfect for adding a little charm to your warm-weather looks.
11 | Adidas Gazelles – You’ve been waiting for the right time to pull the trigger—this is it. Treat ‘yo self! (20% off CODE: KICKS)
12 | Ralph Lauren Pajamas – I love a good bougie pair of pajamas. I think of Mother’s Day as a day to receive things I’d never buy for myself. So… exhibit A!
13, 14 | Dior Perfume & Jo Malone Perfume – I have the Dior Blooming Bouquet and love it! I wear a different Jo Malone perfume, but I researched this one and it’s their most popular scent.
15 | Initial Bracelet – I love a dainty bracelet. I want to start building my own stack to wear every day. I’d need two—my son’s and daughter’s first initials… well, maybe four. I also need my dogs'.
16 | Straw Hat – A super fancy straw hat if you’re in the market for a high-end, quality item. Like the Cuyana bag, this one’s a favorite of Meghan Markle.
17 | Longchamp Le Pliage Bag [Large] – Have it. LOVE it. I’ve had this one for many years—such a quality bag.
18 | Espresso Machine – I drink three shots of espresso every morning. This machine is AMAZING. It’s super cute, looks great in my kitchen, very affordable, and totally gets the job done. 5/5 stars.
19 | Gold Watch – Now that I’m superior to all the Apple Watch wearers, I’d like a gold watch—because not only do I not know how many steps I’ve walked, I also have no clue what time it is all day.
20 | Sam Edelman Mules – These are just quality. Timeless, super comfortable, and never go out of style. I have them in red and love the black too.

21 | Lululemon Jacket: Have it, love it, and pretty sure you would too. Perfect for spring and early fall days when you want a light layer.
22 | Nike Sneakers: Have them, love them, and again—I think you would too! I plan on wearing them as my “fancy” sneakers, but apparently they also work for actual athletic activity. I love the silver details.
23 | Madewell Eyelet Blouse: Don’t have it… WANT IT. Seems to run just a tiny bit big.
24 | Lemon Dress: I saw Shea McGee wear this a few weeks ago and knew I needed it. It’s STUNNING. I have a reel of me styling this dress on my Instagram page.
25 | Designer Denim: Why not use Mother’s Day as an excuse to ask for a pair of jeans quadruple the price of what you’d usually pay? If that sounds horrible—keep scrolling. But if you're into this kind of splurge, check out Agolde jeans. They’re very fancy.
26 | Bermuda Shorts: Bermuda shorts are IN this szn. This scares me. I have huge calves and they’re not usually the most flattering. But I LOVE these. And if my husband is reading this as closely as I told him to—I’d like these!
27 | Suede Bag: Just a gorgeous, high-quality suede bag.
28 | Quilted Jacket: I love a quilted jacket for spring. I posted a reel yesterday about my favorite one. I can’t seem to locate it anymore, but this one gives a similar vibe.
29 | Lace Skirt: Lace skirts are very in. The trendy ladies are wearing them transparently over white underwear or nude biker shorts. These felt a little more my style—and didn’t require specialty underwear or shorts.
30 | Polaroid Camera: Super cool and fun to have. I love getting the physical images right away.
Left: The Lululemon jacket that I love! Right: The beautiful lemon dress.

My quilted jacket that I wear all the time throughout the spring!

Affordable Items (Under $100)

So many affordable items to pick from! Choose your fighter below…

31 | Charm Necklace: I love this necklace! I was influenced a while ago by Lindsey Regan Thorne - and this necklace did not disappoint.
32 | Hydrojug: This thing makes a Stanley look like a sippy cup. It has a soft bottom so it doesn’t clunk, and the straw folds in—I put it upside down in my work bag and not a single leak.
33 | Charm Bracelet: Another fun summer essential. If I can ever get a cool-girl bracelet stack going, I’d love to add this.
34 | Yellow Pajama Pants: Butter yellow is very cool. So are chic pajama pants.
35 | YSL Lip Gloss: I have it and swear by it. My favorite everyday gloss—it’s sheer, moisturizing, and smells amazing.
36 | Soma Travel Mug: This stupid thing makes me so happy. I transport my triple shot of espresso to and from work in it. I love that the lid screws on, so I can toss it into the black hole known as my work bag.
37 | Clarins Cryo Mask: I have this and love it. After a night of salty fajitas and fun, it’s the perfect way to de-puff a face that looks like it got stung by 16 bees.
38 | Ralph Lauren Hat: Very chic, very preppy.
39 | Straw Clutch: Another Shea McGee-inspired find—I saw her wearing it and was hooked. It’s an Etsy gem, which always feels like a win.
40 | Rattan Clutch: The most similar one I’ve found to my J.Crew clutch I’ve been wearing in Reels. Bonus: you can monogram it.

41 | Sephora Sample Set: It’s like a Beauty Costco in a box—who doesn’t love free-ish-but-not-really samples?
42 | Mini Longchamp: The tiny version of my favorite big bag. Same chic, just more portable.
43 | Sloppy Joe’s Zip-Up: This one’s giving Princess Diana in the best way. They’ve even re-created her iconic quarter zip—check the site and prepare to swoon.
Princess Diana on the Left - the “Sloppy Joe” sweatshirt you can by on the right!
44 | Heart Bracelet: A very cute and dainty piece of jewelry.
45 | Oribe Royal Blowout Spray: I have this—and love it. It’s definitely a splurge for a hair spray, but it literally lasts forever. Cam Wimberly influenced me, and if you’ve ever seen her hair, you’ll be persuaded too.
46 | Capri Blue Candle: I remember influencers raving about this back in 2015, and I scoffed at the idea of a candle being “superior to all others.” Well, it’s 2025, and I’m here to report—ten years later—the hype is real.
47 | New Balance Sneakers: Love these. I think they’re a less edgy version of the clunky 9060s.
48 | Eyelet Top: I have it and love it! I’m wearing this top in the Reel I posted yesterday (Friday), and it’s just as gorgeous on as it is in the photo.
The most gorgeous eyelet top! So stunning. Head over to my Instagram (@timelesslytraci) to see my reel of how I style this shirt!

49 | A Hotel Room Alone
What’s better than a night alone? I’m not quite sure. What would I do with my time? I think I’d go for a walk, binge-watch Bravo shows, order room service, read a book in the lobby… the possibilities are endless.
50 | A Deep Clean of My House (While I’m at a Hotel Alone)
While I’m away, I’d love for someone to deep clean my house so I can come home feeling completely stress-free.
51 | Laundry Service (While I’m at a Hotel)
Also while I’m at the hotel, I’d love a laundry service to come pick up my family’s laundry. Clean it. FOLD IT. Then drop it off at my doorstep like a dream.
52 | Himalayan Salt Stone Massage (Maybe at the Hotel?)
While I’m at the hotel, I might need to add a few more indulgent activities to the list. I love this type of massage—though I’m not entirely sure why. I think it’s the way the stones gently burn my skin.

Wishing you all the best in your Mother’s Day shopping experience. Feel free to forward this to all the husbands/significant others out there. Just be explicitly clear about the specific items you want — otherwise, you might end up with a sauna blanket instead of a gold watch.

If you’re shopping for your mom or any of the mom-like figures in your life, I hope this gives you a bit of inspiration.

And lastly, a shoutout to my amazing Mom — wouldn’t be here without her. She was very chicly rocking a beach charm necklace on Easter, effectively blowing up my Mother’s Day plan for her. So trendy, perhaps too trendy. Sauna blanket it is! 😉

Love you guys! xo,

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