Today I’m sharing a few ideas for making the mother(s) in your life feel celebrated like the queens they are.

Let’s face it: moms make the world go around. No matter how helpful our partners are (and some dads truly are superheroes), I don’t think anyone would argue the fact that mothers are the engine behind the operation. 

We know what everyone needs and when. We juggle family dynamics and write lists and research nutrition and cleaning supplies and understand who our children are at the deepest level. Also, we share our food, use our shirts to wipe snotty noses, and lay awake at night praying for guidance, wisdom, and safety over our families as we begin the whole thing over the next morning. We give of ourselves wholly, without a second thought, day in and day out. 

So, yeah, we deserve a nice little Mother’s Day weekend. Husbands, if you’re reading this, take notes. 

Mother’s Day Ideas

Here are some ideas for making the mother(s) in your life feel celebrated, seen, and cherished: 

Preemptive bouquet 

This is straight out of the Tyler Nuss playbook. Since before we got married, he’s been “surprising” me with gorgeous flowers a few days before special occasions. He’ll bring home a bouquet on the Monday of my birthday week or have Farm Girl Flowers delivered the Friday before Mother’s Day. That way, I can enjoy the flowers throughout the whole weekend. It’s a hype builder, his way of letting me know that he wants me to feel as special as possible. 

This also takes the guessing game out of it for moms–like, YES, you will be celebrated this weekend and here’s a bouquet to prove it. You know? 

Farm Girl Flowers: You can’t go wrong. These bouquets are stunning. Check this off your to do list today and get those bouquets scheduled for the Friday before Mother’s Day! (The “just right” size is plenty big enough!!)

Native Poppy: If you’re local to San Diego, I recommend Native Poppy. Their flowers are gorgeous, and you can order ahead and pick them up in Solana Beach, North Park, or Mission Valley. They also deliver almost everywhere in SD county! 

If you don’t want to spend a ton of money on this, Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods have some great options (and don’t sleep on Jimbo’s!!). If you do go the grocery store route, just make sure to trim those babies and plop them into a vase or mason jar for the full effect. 

Schedule a facial or nail appointment 

Send the mom in your life for a little alone time. Chances are, you’ll spend Mother’s Day as a family, but mama needs a break–trust me! This is a great thing to do on the Friday or Saturday before Mother’s Day. 

Book a facial, massage, or nail appointment at a local (well-reviewed) spa. Definitely pay (and tip!) ahead of time to make this a seamless experience. And, by all means, send that woman out the door early so she has time to stop for an iced coffee on her way! 

A few San Diego spa options: Skin Habit in Pacific Beach or North Park, Shop Good in One Paseo or North Park. If you really want to splurge, send her to La Estancia in La Jolla or Rancho Valencia in Rancho Sante Fe for the day. 

Mother’s Day gift ideas

I feel like there are two important attributes of a solid Mother’s Day gift: it should be useful, and it should be just bougie enough that she would hesitate to buy it for herself. 

If we are dealing with the type of woman who just buys herself whatever she wants (baller!), then go for the spa day or experience route. 

If your wife is of the pickier variety, then just flat out ask her what she needs or wants and then go get it ASAP. 

Another route is, frankly, the gift card route. Make it intentional though! Send her off to the mall by herself with a Nordstrom or Anthropologie gift card and tell her not to come back until it’s dark out, lol! I don’t think any sane mother would balk at that. 

If you do want to show up with a wrapped gift in hand, here are a few ideas:

Under $75

Geometry tea towel: You can’t go wrong with a Geometry tea towel. These are ultra absorbent and come in the cutest patterns. I love bringing these as hostess gifts, and they would pair beautifully with a cookbook or candle for a Mother’s Day present. I love this one, this one, and this one.

Sézane’s “maman d’amour” bowl: I mean, come on. Too cute for words and perfect for a floating shelf set up. For more French-inspired ideas, their entire Mother’s Day gift shop is to-die-for.

Waterproof Big Buckle Birkenstocks: My mother-in-law got me these for an early present last week, and I LOVE THEM. They will be perfect for pool and beach days, and the big buckle detail is just too cute.

Anthro’s Icon Juice Tumbler: This is the bigger version of Anthro’s icon juice glass, and I love that it comes with a straw and lid. I’d pair this with these cutie boxer shorts.

Nordstrom Moonlight Nightshirt: I love this light blue polka dot version of Nordstrom’s iconic Moonlight pajama line. Love the striped shorts version too.

Hotel Lobby Candle: This is one of my favorite gifts to give because no one loves to spend their own money on a bougie candle. My favorite scent of all time is the Positano candle. It’s such a unique, refreshing scent–available for the season on 4/24!! This link should give you $10 off your purchase!

Clare V. Baseball Cap: Clare V. makes the cutest caps.

Quince Silk Pillowcase: We finally switched over to silk pillowcases last year, and I can’t believe we didn’t do it sooner! I love the ones we got from Quince. The washing instructions are particularly offensive, but I have washed ours as normal with our sheets without a problem so far.

OSEA Body Oil: There isn’t a woman alive who won’t appreciate a bottle of OSEA’s cult-following body oil. I love this set with the scrub and dry drush too! Use my code RUTH10 for a discount at checkout.

40 oz Hydrojug: I’ll save you my rant about the Stanley cup’s poor construction, but I LOVE my Hydrojug. They have the happiest spring colors out right now.

Martha Stewart’s Gardening Handbook: I think I need this book. Would look great on a coffee table, and who doesn’t want advice from our queen?

Colorful beaded layering necklace from Anthro: I tried this on at Anthro last week and thought it was so cute. Looks great layered with my gold necklaces and would be so cute on vacation this summer!

Quince Everyday Gold Hoops: These are super lightweight and perfect for someone who loves jewelry but doesn’t want anything too flashy.

San Diego Hat Co. sun visor: I love this visor–practical and cute! I’d get this for someone who loves gardening or laying out with a book.

The Skinny Confidential Mint Ice Roller: You guys know I use my ice roller every single morning, and I am obsessed with this double-sided travel version. 30% off this week!

Photo book or gift from Artifact Uprising

If you’re searching for the ultimate crowd pleaser gift, consider the sentimental route. Artifact Uprising makes the most stunning photo books and gifts. I have been a customer of Artifact Uprising’s for 9 years–since we had our wedding album made in 2015–and everything we’ve ever made with them turns out beautifully. The prints and books are heirloom quality. The color story books would make a flawless mother-in-law gift. Use my link and code RUTH15 for a discount at checkout on your project with Artifact Uprising.

$100-200

Quince 14k Paperclip Chain: I wear my paperclip chain necklace every single day, and I have heard such great things about Quince’s version.

Lake Pajamas: I love my Lake pajamas and think they make such a great gift. I’m partial to the shorts set, but the nightgowns are great too. A robe is always a great choice too.

NuFACE Mini+ Kit: For the skincare junkie. The NuFACE sculpts and smooths skin using a gentle micro current. On sale right now at Anthro!

Lack of Color Vista Hat: A cute hat for the outdoorsy mom!!

Madewell Handwoven Leather Tote: This woven tote is so beautiful. Functional and practical for the working mom.

On Cloudnova Form 2 Athletic Sneakers: It seems like every person in my life has switched to On Clouds this year! I need to give them a try. Love the pink and cream version.

Youswim Aplomb One Piece: I always include a Youswim suit on my Mother’s Day list because they are so comfortable and basically the only suits I reach for these days. They are very much mom-life approved and look so cute with a pair of shorts and Birkenstocks. My color picks this year? Pimento and Sky.

Christy Dawn Leni Set: Christy Dawn makes the prettiest dresses and sets. I love the bow details on this Leni set. Perfect for around the house and out and about on vacation.

$250+

Higher Dose Red Light Therapy Mask: Red light therapy is widely celebrated in the wellness world for its health and beauty benefits. I have been using this mask for a few weeks now and am loving the results so far. This is a great, splurgy gift for a mom who rarely takes time for herself. Use my code RUTH15 for a discount at checkout!

Clare V. Grande Fanny Crossbody Bag: This is the ultimate “hands free” mom purse. It holds a ton and fits higher on the waist than a normal crossbody so it’s extra secure when you’re running around with little ones, etc. This may sound extreme, but I think every mom needs one of these.

Sézane Basket Bag: My basket bag is the star of all of my spring and summer outfits. I have the Justine, but I also love the slightly more practical Paloma.

Dôen Emmaretta Dress: There is something so festive about receiving a nice dress for a gift, and Dôen makes the most beautiful, timeless pieces. I love the vibrant floral Emmaretta, the cheery yellow Ashlynn, and the summery light blue Quinn (I have this and LOVE). I just saw that Nordstrom now carries Dôen–easy returns if she wants to exchange for something else!

Catbird Personalized Name Necklace: Catbird makes such gorgeous, unique jewelry. I love this name necklace and think it would be such a cute gift for a new mom. If you really want to go big, use their personalized charm necklace builder!! Obsessed.