Mother's Day Gifts for the Special Woman in Your Life

It's always a test coming up with just the right gift for mom on Mother's Day. How do you find the perfect gift for the perfect woman who has given you so much over the years? The trick is to put a little thought into picking out the perfect gift for mom. Here are a few categories and gift sites and stores to get your brain on the right track:

In the green age. Consider a gift for the eco-friendly woman, the mother who is into Mother Earth. Women understand the concept of recycled paper. That makes sense, but a recycled purse? Is there such a thing? In the case of handbags, isn't the term recycled just a nice way of saying used? Well, hold your judgment until you've seen recycled bags by Nina Messenger being sold at www.shopbop.com for around $180. Each handbag is one of a kind, made of naturally-dyed, recycled material. One featured on Shopbop features leather side tassels, brass rings and a leather snap closure, as well as brass hardware.

If that's out of your price range, or if the mom in your life likes the recycled look to be more obvious, take a look at www.gifts.com. For $60, you can buy mom a Recycled Billboard Biggie Tote Bag. This is exactly what it sounds like, a tote bag, with a twist. You read the words "Recycled Billboard" correctly. This tote, by designer Nicola Freegard, is handmade from recycled billboards. If you want one of these, get it quickly. According to Freegard, when this lot runs out, that will be it. Talk about a one-of-a-kind gift.

Along the same line, also at www.gifts.com, is a tote made from real boat sails. This is made in Germany and comes in blue or red. It sells for around $100 at www.vat19.com

In the office. To say you need a gift for a working mom seems terribly redundant, so let's say you're looking for the perfect present for a mom who gets a paycheck or is career minded. At www.buy.com is a stylish keychain with an attached USB flash drive for about $30. It comes in 4 and 8 gigabytes and is available for Mac or PC.

In the garden. For the working mom who has a bit of a green thumb or who just likes to think she does check out the desk dish garden at www.teleflora.com. The gift sells for about $40 and features an arranged, streamlined garden in a simple cylinder with layers of rocks, sand and plants.

In the nursery. Available at Nordstrom is a gift designed for the new mom. The Bebe au Lait Nursing Cover is a chic shawl meant for beauty and as a discreet cover to nurse the baby. The shawl retails for $35.

In the kitchen. From www.gifts.com or www.amazon.com comes a gift designed for the mom who loves to cook. The Demy Kitchen Safe Touchscreen Recipe Reader from Key Ingredient sells for $299. The recipe reader keeps your favorite recipes available in an electronic photo frame.

At http://www.gourmetgiftbaskets.com design a gift basket of all sorts of tasty wonders for mom. For about $50, a French Watering Can comes stocked full of tea and cookies, biscotti and a few surprises.

In the land of whimsy. For the mom who likes a bit of surprise in a gift, think about the 2-Carat Cup which is basically a coffee cup whose handle resembles a diamond band. And the price tag shouts whimsy at $15 at www.amazon.com.

At www.netique.com, pick up an umbrella that no other mother on the block will have. For $26, buy a folding, mini-umbrella that opens and closes with the touch of a button. What sets it apart from other umbrellas is the Gerbera Daisy design and shape.

In the know. For the chic woman in your life, think of the Mother's Day version of a tie, only prettier, much prettier. The scarf has always been a perennial gift favorite, providing a burst of color to bring any outfit to life. For $300 at Saks 5^th Avenue is a unique Mindanao silk scarf made by Emilio Pucci.

From the heart. In the spirit of traditional Mother's Day gifts comes a personalized heart pendant adorned with Swarovski crystals hanging on smaller hearts to represent each child. The pendant is available for $30 from www.collectiblestoday.com.

Stay with the heart motif, and check out www.netique.com. For $26, you can find a heart-shaped treasure box lined in velvet and adorned with miniature faux pearls. Also at www.netique.com for $28 are Medallion Taffeta Bookmarks. The ribbon attaches to a brass medallion suspended from a chain.

When it comes to gift giving and mom, it's not about money. Remember she's the one who loved the necklace you made her out of raw pasta noodles when you were in kindergarten. Adjust your thinking cap. If your cap is made out of noodles, don't tug too hard when you tighten the strings.