Mother’s Day Gift Guide 2020: Gifting with Gratitude

For Mother’s Day, along with a host of other special occasions this summer, meaningful gifts that say you care are most appreciated. This is an ideal time to touch someone’s heart, especially during these challenging times. Kindness and love is a year-round opportunity, and in the spirit of my latest book “Loving Out Loud: The Power of A Kind Word,” it’s always time to deepen your bonds and celebrate loved ones. From moms to new moms, grandmothers and aunts, along with grads, Dads and the super everyday heroes in our lives, gift with gratitude. Write notes of affirmation, love letters sharing how Mom or Grandma inspired you, and don’t resist a generous thought. Shift your “to-do list” to a “to-love list” and give gifts that keep on giving. Remember, these are unchartered times, so order early, expect delays due to current events, and don’t postpone TLC and loving out loud!

Food Glorious Food – For the mom with good taste who loves to cook, send a personalized delivery to her door and gift Farmers & Fishermen Purveyors fresh fish and fine food. Hats off to dedicated Atlanta owners, Kirk and wife Lori Halpern, for their local direct-to-the-consumer delicious fresh food company that’s fulfilling orders daily of fresh fish, meat, eggs, challah breads, milk and more. Check out their kosher section, fabulous marinades, vinegars and lemon-infused olive oil. Previously, they serviced restaurants and recently also began offering their incredible edibles with a complimentary home delivery, making a delicious difference for customers while also helping regional farms and fishermen. Signature gift boxes include the “Fabulous Fish Box,” “USDA Prime Love-Me-TENDERloin Filets,” “Let’s Celebrate! Combo box of Lamb & Veal Chops,” “Pantry of Delectables Box,” “Kosher Meat Combo Box” or “The Brunch Box.” You’ll love the outstanding selection of freezer pleasers perfectly suited for Moms, grandmothers and new moms! Call Farmers & Fishermen at 770-441-1100 or visit online at www.farmersandfishermen.com.

Gifts Galore – From chocolate and coffee baskets to garden-themed and stunning orchids and flower gardens, Balloons Over Atlanta is prepared with gifts that put a smile on everyone’s faces. Owner and event décor icon Gayle Rubenstein shares her creative visions all over Atlanta with front lawn displays of drive-by congratulations for all occasions, including birthdays, grads and more, to delivering gift baskets galore. Depending on selection, delivery is available for an additional charge and out-of-state shipping is priced individually. Superhero or themed balloons can be attached to any of their local creative gifts for a festive touch. Visit www.balloonsover.com, call 404-231-3090, or email sales@balloonsover.com

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Front Porch Photographs – Tessa DiLeo is an Atlanta-based pet portraiture artist, family photographer, wife and mother. To support mothers and infants in need during and post COVID-19, 10 percent of DiLeo’s photography profits will be donated through 2020 to Helping Mamas, Georgia’s baby supply bank. Social distancing mini-sessions are $150 for 30 minutes and include all digital images delivered via an online gallery. A perfect way to capture the silver lining of quarantine, gift or schedule a session by emailing tessa@buckandwally.com. Follow on Instagram @buckandwally.

 

How Sweet It Is! ¬ Baked by Melissa, the bite-size dessert company, is still shipping nationwide, spreading joy celebrating all of life’s moments. Available now through May 16, Baked By Melissa is offering a limited-edition Mother’s Day cupcake assortment with a custom gift box. The Groovy Mama gift box ($37) includes 25 cupcakes with flavors such as Chocolate Strawberry (topped with freeze-dried strawberries), Cookies & Milk (made with Chips Ahoy! cookies), Electric-Tie Dye, Cookie Dough, and Chocolate & Sprinkles. The Mother’s Day Essentials pack ($59.50) contains the Groovy Mama gift box, a Super Woman bracelet set, and a premium Best Mom Ever card. Customers can also mix and match flavor assortments with various gift boxes, including vegan options and more, www.bakedbymelissa.com

Personalize A Postcard ¬ Mom will love a custom photo card for Mother’s Day. Share with her something she can cherish forever. TouchNote’s award-winning app lets members send custom-made, real cards straight from their phone. Download the Touchnote app, purchase credits and send postcards or greeting cards anywhere in the world. Customers have sent over 15 million TouchNote cards and they were awarded The Good Web Guide’s App of the Year 2018, Financial Times Tech 100 Europe and numerous accolades on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. Moms will say thank you for your touching sentiments, www.touchnote.com.

Baby Einstein – Oh Baby! Moms at home with little ones will thank you with miles of smiles for these gifts and the power of play. Any of the interactive toys from Baby Einstein will stimulate a love of learning and give mommy back some time. The Baby Einstein Around We Grow 4-in-1 Discovery Center is a Mommy pleaser with a creative solution and four distinct ways to play: 360-degree Walk-Around Discovery Center, discovery table, art table, and four removable floor toys. An awesome choice! Or, check out the Baby Einstein Hape Magic Touch Piano made from natural wood and no buttons, just magic! Tap the painted piano keys to make music play and you’ll be wowed by the mystifying musical design of this little wooden keyboard.

And for the baby ready to roll, walker style, check out the Bright Starts 3 Ways to Play red Mustang convertible walker. For a fun Mother’s Day activity with your toddler, enjoy Baby Einstein’s recently launched new animated shows airing on YouTube: “Cal’s Sound Yard” and “Patch’s Number Forest & Counting with Earl!” Your child will enjoy following along as Baby Einstein’s beloved characters, Cal, Earl and Patches teach letters and numbers. This new content is all based on “The Einstein Way,” a curiosity-driven learning philosophy from industry experts, inspired by Montessori and STEAM. Plus, keep in mind the Baby Einstein Classics videos, which are now streaming on many popular platforms including YouTube, Netflix, iTunes, and Amazon.com. www.kids2.com/brands/baby-einstein/

Throw A Pajama Party – With Mother’s Day around the corner, moms are more deserving than ever this year. Lake Pajamas is the classic pajama company for sleep, lounge and play, and will be opening soon in Atlanta. From luxurious nightgowns to maternity items, Lake pajamas includes the option to add a beautiful Lake-branded gift box (worthy of saving) to your order for $10 and to write a customized note to accompany the order. Lake is offering free two-day weekday shipping on all U.S. orders over $50, www.lakepajamas.com

For A-List Moms – What’s a mom to do? Do a little research and provide mom with a list of things to do. Select movies or irresistible television series she’ll love that will help spend time with the pleasure of entertainment. Series such as “Unorthodox,” “The Restaurant” or “A Place to Call Home” top many lists at this time. Check out the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival www.ajff.org for what to watch, plus in-conversation online events and The Book Festival of The MJCCA “In Your Living Room” series for Zoom author interviews, www.atlantajcc.org. Plus, check out the book “Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance” by Angela Duckworth and bookmark Jewish Educational Loan Fund’s live virtual event with the author June 17, www.jelf.org. Make a collection of suggestions for a novel gift. Have popcorn delivered and send it along with snacks via Instacart.com or send a gift card online for one of the many delivery services available and entertain Mom at-home style.

Shabbat In A Box – Start early before Mother’s Day weekend with the help of Eli Brafman of EB’s Ghost Kitchen. EB Catering Co., also known as Eli’s Ghost Kitchen, features delicious kosher options including a Thursday Pizza Night. Brafman is ready for your certified kosher orders with his Shabbat In A Box. Order at Brafman’s website. He has two complimentary pickup sites or a delivery fee to your door for $20. Easy to pay online and a lovely reminder of the meaning and tradition of a family Shabbat dinner (Schedule it by invitation Zoom.com style), www.ebcateringco.com

Make it DELI-cious – Say Thanks A Lox to Mom! It will be an instant hit when you order gift cards online from Goldbergs Fine Foods, which continues to please Atlanta’s deli-lovers. Goldbergs delivers orders and this gift card will be a reminder for months to come how you feel about Mom, Grandma or anyone you adore, www.goldbergsfinefoods.com

Eat Local – Atlanta chef and restauranteur Blaiss Nowak makes gift cards easy to purchase online for Mom at Nowak’s. With delivery and curbside available or a chat feature on his website, he’s ready for the gift giving season. Known for his craft cocktails and delicious food with creole roots, Mom will enjoy this Morningside neighborhood experience (at home) full of robust flavor, family and tradition. Blaiss invites you to purchase increments online and makes it easy. Order early and fill out the online address form and add a note that will be mailed to Mom. www.nowaksrestaurant.com

Memory Making – Have boxes of photos on hand? No worries! Custom scrapbook creator and Alpharetta Mom Michelle Penn is ready to turn your momentous occasions into a treasured photo book keepsake. From bar and bat mitzvah to wedding and treasured family photos, she will create a professional album. Don’t let those amazing memories just sit in your computer any longer. Reach out to Michelle by email, Mmpenn6@comcast.net or Facebook.

Calling All Pint-Sized Picassos – Now is the time for your creative side to emerge and involve the kids creating a work of art at home. A portrait of mom? A vase of pretty colorful flowers for Grandma? Take a photo of a child creating it, talking about his or her favorite Grandma or Mom moment. Or have a filmmaker on call? Check out the iMovie app or any of the endless apps ready to help you make your own video from a series of smartphone photographs. This is a great time to learn a new talent and produce mini docu-dramas for Mom that say I love you in a red-carpet kind of way.

Fruit Of The Vine – L’chaim! If Mom is a wine lover, treat her to gifts from the vine at Tower Beer, Wine & Spirits. Tower’s two stores (Piedmont Road in Buckhead and Buford Highway in Doraville) will remain open with reduced hours, are limiting the number of people in the store at a time and have curbside service for online orders. Visit www.towerwinespirits.com for more information.

Enjoy A Mouth Full – Jeremy Estroff and Chesan Brady’s catering company called Mouth Full Catering + Events presents thoughtful selections including gluten-free and vegan dishes. They focus on the bounty of the season weekly to insure the freshest choices. Check out their Fresh Food Friday delivery (must order by Wednesday) for each weekend’s enjoyment, www.mouthfullcatering.com

Give A Little R&R – How about a little rest and relaxation for mom? Origanami sheets upgrades bedding and keeps it luxurious. These sheets are made with eco-friendly, Fairtrade certified and organic cotton material. Visit www.hulyahome.com. The Origanami sheet sets in sateen take your comfort to the next level as Fairtrade assists in developing farmers’ independence and also helps to achieve organic certification, which benefits the environment.

 

Sweet Dreams – Moms will also appreciate a company called Blissy, which features luxurious silk pillowcase (just in case) keeping Mom’s hair looking soft and manageable at www.blissy.com.

 

 

 

 

 

For a Jewel of a Gal – Well-known talented jewelry designer Sara Blaine presents her fabulous gem-filled website of handcrafted American-designed sterling silver jewelry adorned with semi-precious gemstones and freshwater pearls. Blaine has successfully found the happy medium between “trend” and timeless elegant pieces. Her stunning jewelry is certain to be treasured and destined to please anyone on your gift list, www.sarablaine.com

Give Mom A Hand – DefineMe is the vegan eco-friendly fragrance line dedicated to making a difference with their scented, moisturizing hand sanitizer spray called DefineMe Hands. For every bottle sold, they are giving $1 to No Kid Hungry and that has provided over 8,540 meals! This natural sanitizing spray uses clean ingredients: ethyl alcohol 75 percent (derived from organic sugarcane), aloe vera, coconut oil, and DefineMe’s clean, vegan “love scent” fragrance, www.definemefragrance.com/.

 

Get Puzzled! Celebrate Mother’s Day with a variety of puzzles from Uncommon Goods. Enjoy puzzling with The New York Times Custom Front Page Puzzle, $49.95. Celebrate suffrage with this beautifully illustrated, 500-piece puzzle featuring a circle of voting rights champions, from Elizabeth Cady Stanton to Frederick Douglass. Or check out the Joyful Rainbow Wooden Puzzle, $90. This 326-piece jigsaw puzzle reveals a vivid rainbow image so striking you may want to hang it up on your wall. www.uncommongoods.com (Some puzzles may not be available until June).

Thank Your Lucky Stars – For over 20 years, Amy Leff has been an established jewelry designer and metalsmith working in sterling silver, gold and 14k gold filled. From earrings, necklaces, rings to bracelets, Moms will appreciate her sentimental and personalized pieces. Jewelry arrives gift-ready, wrapped in sparkle tissue paper and placed in a jewelry box with custom messaging. Free priority shipping on all U.S. orders, www.throwingstarsjewelry.com

Picture Perfect – Picture this! Thank you to Chuck Wolf’s Photo Design Bar, which is open online 24/7 at www.Photodesignbar.com and ready to please with a fantastic selection of photo-fabulous gifts. Start your next great photo project at their site, check out all of their specials available, and design something super special for Mom and family members as well.

 

For Moms Who Love to Read – You can’t go wrong with a great book for Moms who love to read. Easy to order at Amazon.com, gift a fabulous book on The New York Times best-sellers list. Or, check out Mom’s book club list and what’s she’s reading next. New Moms will love “My Mom is Magical” by Sabrina Moyle, which kids can read to mom on her special day. If a personalized book is on your list for new Mom’s little ones, visit www.frecklebox.com for some creative books you can personalize and even include Mommy and Grandma in the acknowledgements or storyline.

 

 

 

 

 

Pretty and Fabulous – River Mint Finery is one of Atlanta’s favorite Buckhead boutiques specializing in style and continues to feature lovely accessories for mom online for your gift giving needs. Their website is busy taking orders and shipping gifts, www.rivermintfinery.com

Make It Sensational! Mom in another city? This Mother’s Day send this wonderful metal embossed container (in silver and great spring colors) filled with pretty gifts and gourmet treats including a stack of wonderful different-sized notepads that say “Feel Beautiful” along with a matching pen, refreshing tea, delectable Nam’s Bits chocolate chip cookies, Savannah Bee peach lip balm, and lavender lotion. Each gift is beautifully wrapped with cellophane, tied with lovely coordinating ribbons, and can be customized with gift tags and labels incorporating your personalized message, www.sensationalbaskets.com Each gift is delivered locally in the Atlanta area or shipped via FedEx Ground.

Keep It Fragile! Something fragile is always a hit with Moms and they are delivering within a three-mile radius or sending via UPS. From the stunning Vietri hibiscus bud vases to the Agraria at-home fragrances, which diffuse scents and are shaped in flowers. Fragile is ready to help you send a gift to Mom. From a beautiful Baccarat butterfly in every color to Michael Aram’s gifts galore, there are endless choices for the stylish Mom who values something pretty or purposeful. Fragile is one of Atlanta’s leading gift resources and has something for every Mom and grandmother on your list. When gift giving, call 404-257-1323 or order directly online and make Mother’s Day special just like Mom, www.fragilegifts.com

Planted at Home – Pike Nurseries locations are now exclusively offering delivery and curbside pickup. Customers can complete an online form or call their local store and a Pike Nurseries employee-owner will return the call to consult and finalize the order. Plan ahead: Online orders can take up to five days to process. Choose from blooming, fragrant shrubs or decorative houseplants. Low maintenance moms will love a succulent garden or spring combo container, prearranged and pre-planted from local horticulturists. Pikes also has gift cards from $25, www.pikenursery.com

Photo Wow – For an artful gift of grandkids or even the family pet, transform your cellphone photographs and create a pop portrait or photo-imaged work of art with Mom’s favorite peeps. Check out www.photowow.com for endless suggestions that say wow!

New Moms – Mommy and moms-to-be will appreciate The Short Years, a beautiful baby book for new parents. Check out the 138 pages of content plus 70 full pages of photographs and customized covers. Answer a few questions and upload a couple photos in The Short Years Baby Book App each week. The Short Years ships moms their baby book pages every time they complete three chapters in the app, so they can watch their book grow with baby’s first year, https://www.theshortyearsbooks.com/

Robyn Spizman Gerson is an award-winning New York Times best-selling author and media personality. She has appeared on local and national television for over three decades. Her book “Loving Out Loud: The Power of a Kind Word” is available on Amazon. Spizman considers family and friends the greatest gifts of all, www.robynspizman.com.

Note: All items were available at time of publication, unless otherwise noted. Expect delays due to current events.