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I actually got it together this year to do our Mother’s Day gift guide ahead of time – you know, so there’s actually a bit of time to shop. As a mother of a soon-to-be eight-year-old, I feel uniquely positioned to suggest things that will bring joy to parents, no matter the age. And please excuse me for not including only things food-related – I love the kitchen, and I love to cook, but sometimes a treat comes in other forms. And, as always, my thoughts are if you can’t buy for a mom, or don’t want to buy for a mom – buy something for yourself.
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Ridiculously charming glasses: I got one of these Ichendorf glasses a while back on a whim and it makes me smile every time I open the cabinet.
A Sonos One: I have two of these, in a two-bedroom apartment, and I love them so much that I might get another. Mark has, no joke, 12 of them. You can play different things on each one — so technically, Mark can play 12 different playlists all at once. This speaker is essential for cooking.
A beautiful sweater: Babaa sweaters are on the pricier side, but I got this one this winter and wore it as much as I possibly could before it started getting warm out. It manages to be flattering despite how oversized it is.
Anahuea flowers: Flowers from this beautiful Maui farm are Mark’s go-to gift. Their shipping is excellent and the flowers last for ages. I’ve been the lucky recipient of these beauties a bunch of times.
The best dates! You should never hesitate to get Rancho Meladuco dates as a gift. (I eat a lot of them.)
My favorite novel of the year: The Bee Sting, by Paul Murray. I know it’s only April, but I can’t imagine loving another book more than this one in 2024. It’s positioned as an “end of the world” novel, but don’t let that scare you away (I almost did): It’s really not that. And what about this pretty bookmark to go with it, plus the sleep mask, below? Now that’s a good bundle.
Bread baking bonanza: A copy of Mark and Kerri’s wonderful Bittman Bread, along with the perfect pot for making the signature bread – go for the classic cast iron 2 quart, or the enameled cast iron 3.5 quart. Both work perfectly.
A frame, but so much better: I may be unhealthily obsessed (hey, I’m not rich) with framing objects, and Framebridge’s floating option is perfect for that. Just click “shop,” “what are you framing,” and then “anything with depth,” and you can frame literally anything — I just got my first edition copy of The Catcher in the Rye framed, and I had my David Bowie Metrocards done, too. Could be great for some 3D kids’ art project.
Russ & Daughters New York Brunch: This is one of my favorite things to buy people. Plus, it comes with a really cute coffee mug.
A pretty throw blanket: I love basically everything at Coyuchi, but this throw would be such a nice gift.
An adorable, and useful, cooking accessory: This smock comes highly recommended by Holly, who doesn’t like anything around her neck a la a traditional apron. I’m getting one. There are so many cute colors and patterns.
A brand new vase full of flowers: These two vases (#1 and #2) are wonderful, and obviously must be presented with the flowers of your choice.
A gorgeous piece of cookware: I just got this Made In saucier, and gosh it’s good-looking. I recently talked to Made In founder Jake Kalick about why copper cookware is loved — more on that soon, but briefly, “it’s hyper conductive; you can control the temperature of your copper pan to a level of precision that you can’t with any other material you’re cooking with.” He notes that there’s a bit of a learning curve, but despite that, I’m excited to get started with it.
The ubiquitous Diptyque candle: It’s ubiquitous for a reason, friends. It’s heavenly. Pricey, yes, but it lasts, and nothing smells better. I have yet to meet a person who doesn’t like this scent. Maybe because it makes you feel like you’re sitting in front of the world’s coziest fireplace.
Jewelry!!! Nick is actually very good at picking out jewelry for me, and my go-to is Catbird. Currently on my wish list there is this blue moon medallion (I mean, ahhhhhh). I also love this charm necklace — you can pick three, five, or seven charms, like letters and birthstones — and this personalized library card charm is perfect for anyone who loves to read.
One more item of jewelry that’s not from Catbird, but that I promise you I will one day have … If you have some cash and a giftee who enjoys all things zodiac, just add this signet ring to your cart immediately. Use code MOM2024 for 20% off.
A super luxe sleep mask: Yes, this is $$ for a sleep mask, but I am a big believer in sleep masks, and I use mine every night, so let’s call it price per use. This one is heavier and looks like blackout shades for your eyes.
Sneakers that give back: Cariuma is well-known for their excellent sustainability efforts, and their sneakers are simple, comfy, and chic. I especially like these. I have these, which are so easy and go with everything, and you can get a matching kids’ pair.