Gift Ideas for Mom

Many of you may be facing the same problem that I am facing: What to get your mother (or mother-in-law) for the holidays. My mother does not collect anything specific, does not rely on the latest gadget for her job, and does not have any one hobby to speak of, so it makes shopping for her exceptionally difficult. So, since I like to get a jump on the holiday rush, I have been doing some brainstorming and figured I would share some of my ideas for the Mom (or any woman on your list) who doesn't really NEED anything, but wants SOMETHING.

If your mom is like mine, technology hasn't totally passed her by, but she's not into every new phone or PDA that hits the market. Even though she still doesn't use a digital camera, I am looking at the new Flip Video digital camcorder by pure digital. This nifty little device is smaller than most digital cameras and super easy to use-which makes it a perfect gift for moms that are a little hesitant to join the 21^st century. You simply point and shoot your subject, and then a USB port pops out of the side and you can load your videos directly onto your computer, with no cables required. This clever little device would also be well suited to other members of your family, but its simple design makes it ideal for those that are intimidated by all things high-tech, for less money than most digital cameras.

Another option for moms is always a safe one: jewelry. Most mothers would be thrilled with a nice pin or brooch. Bracelets and a nice pair of earrings are always nice as well. One tip would be to take notice of whether your recipient wears silver or gold and hunt accordingly. A nice way to personalize your gift would be to look into birthstone jewelry. Most commercial jewelry chains have plenty to choose from, but do not forget about the local shops and merchants. You can usually find something special and unique, like your mom, and support your local economy as well.

One thing that is easy to find and can be very personal are Italian charm bracelets. These charm bracelets are available from everywhere to local jewelry stores, to mall kiosks to online stores and you can put together a combination of charms to reflect your mother's hobbies, travels, birthstone, clubs, grandchildren...the possibilities are endless.

Local potteries are also another great place to look for original gifts. Potteries offer both functional pieces like bowls, platters and other kitchenware to decorative pieces like wall pockets and vases. Again, you get the originality factor and most potteries also feature local artists, jewelers and other crafts to browse through. Since the merchandise is always changing at a pottery, I would recommend visiting more than once if you do not strike gold the first time.

Last but not least, you cannot go wrong with photos. What mom can resist a nicely framed photo of her precious family? In fact, every year, most of my family members get the latest and greatest pictures for Christmas. Then when the photo is no longer current, they have the frame to refill as they wish. I love to browse the frame section in stores like Tuesday Morning, and even Big Lots. They always seem to have interesting frames to choose from at good prices. And nowadays you can use a website like snapfish.com or shutterfly.com to turn an ordinary photo into an extraordinary gift.

Well, these are only a few suggestions, but hopefully it's enough to get you started. Again, do not overlook the shops that surround you. The best stuff is usually in the small stores that you probably never really paid attention to before, without the crowds. Check them out, you'll be pleasantly surprised, as will mom when she opens the treasures you found.