Curated by Mel
Spoil Moms and Grads: Gracious Gifts and A Bit of Quirkiness
The month of May might very well be my favorite month with all its perky flowers and gentle breezes. It’s also when we set aside time to celebrate mothers and all the people in our lives who selflessly dole out mom-like mentoring throughout the year. At the same time, May is also abuzz with college graduations and young adults striking out on their own. So, to my earlier point: what’s not to love? All of these meaningful milestones inspire plenty of gift-giving, and I think we can do better than a soulless gift card, as practical as it may be. So, I’ve gathered some of my favorites—an eclectic mix of thoughtful baubles, keepsakes, and stellar gifts with a wink of quirkiness.
FLORAL WITH FLAIRE
The Bouqs Co catalog of arrangements is among the most creative I’ve seen in recent years. Of course, you can order a traditional and oh-so lovely bouquet of sunflowers, but the brand’s superpower lies in its mastery of the eclectic. The spring collection offers cheery tulips for Mom but also showstoppers like purple anemones, succulent stems, and delphinium. The website also offers astrology-based arrangement suggestions as well as same-day and next-day delivery options and subscriptions.
Info: bouqs.com
A ZERO-PROOF SIP OF ROSE
If the special mom in your life prefers her floral notes in a glass, Figlia’s zero-proof Aperitivo makes a fabulous gift. With hints of rose, bitter orange, and clove, it’s really lovely as is, but garnish is a strip of orange peel for pizzazz. There’s no added sugar or preservatives, which sets it apart from many of the non-alcoholic beverages on the shelves these days. Make it an extra special Mother’s Day gift by pairing it with a set of vintage cocktail glasses.
Info: drinkfiglia.com
RECYCLED SAIL CLOTH TOTE
This hard-working tote—one of Sea Bags best designs—is created from recycled sail cloth, sourced from the bustling waterfront in Portland, Maine. It’s a great gift for a beach-loving mom or any New Englander, at heart. Present the bag on its own or use it to create a themed gift by adding beach-day essentials or tablescape accessories and a gift card for an epic Boston lobster roll kit.
Info: seabags.com
LOBSTER LOVE
Keeping with the lobster theme, I wanted to share this suggestion for one of the ultimate lobster rolls in the Northeast—Pauli’s North End in Boston. Sure, there’s mixed feeling about the Red Sox, but Boston’s famous Italian enclave, The North End, is a heavenly gastro-haven. Pauli’s is known for its overstuffed sandwiches and has been featured on Good Morning America and Food Network’s Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. The lobster rolls are behemoths and are luckily available from Goldbelly. Info: paulisnorthend.com
GOLD FOR THE GRAD
May is also a special time of year because it’s when most college students walk for graduation. I love this simple, elegant Juliette Bracelet from Arleo Collection as a graduation gift for a loved one. It makes a big statement for under $300 with its unique custom lattice design and dazzling18 karat gold. The pull chain closure is finished with moissanite stones, and it feels like an heirloom in the making, so go the extra mile and buy a single sheet of exquisite gift wrap from a stationary store.
Info: arleocollection.com
A PEARLED CANDLE?
For the mom or grandmother that loves candles but has too many candles, it’s time for a Foton candle. Pour the pearled candle beads into any container, add the wick, and light—such a simple yet revolutionary idea. In theory, you can re-use a typical candle container, but it’s a major headache to clean and usually get thrown out. Foton eliminates that waste and allows for oodles of creativity, especially knowing the beads float. Explore the website for ideas and gather some DIY supplies like succulents or seashells to inspire mom’s creative side.
Info: fotoncandle.com
FOR THE WITTY MOMS
Perhaps the most excellent of all the gifts within this gift guide, Brass Monkey’s Salty Birds Sticker Book really elicits joy—sarcastic, unbridled joy. The under-$10 set includes beautifully illustrated bird stickers, each with a snarky little comment—perfect for adorning notebooks, to-do lists, or anyplace that needs a little pop of sarcasm. While you’re on the website, grab the A Trillion Things Every Mom Will Do Prompted Journal. Its bright and cheery cover screams spring, and the prompts on the inside are both heartwarming and humorous.
Info: brassmonkeygoods.com
MOM’S NEW GO-TO
The Moby brand created a product that makes everyone wonder why it took so long. People have been hoisting babies onto their hips since the beginning of time, and now there’s finally a Hip Seat to help offset the weight and help keep baby comfy. It’s basically a fanny pack with a built-in baby seat—and it’s brilliant, really. Stash your little one’s essentials, a wallet, and more. It offers four positions for feeding, face-to-face, side carry, and front facing, plus it adjusts as the baby gets bigger. This easy-to-wash invention is a game-changer. Info: mobywrap.com
BOOKISH DELIGHT
Give the moms in your life what they crave most—a bit of quiet time. Stop into a local indie bookstore to score a great read. Then, in a basket or tote bag, create a gift of bookish delights. Consider adding an additional bookstore gift card, wine, cozy lap blanket, a clip-on reading light, flowers, and one of these sweet Leather Stitched Heart Bookmarks from Alexis Drake—available in black, ruby, lavender, and platinum. For an extra special gift tote, opt for the brand’s buttery soft Market Tote. Info: alexisdrake.com
FROM DORM
TO APARTMENT
I think we can all agree that dorm rooms have certainly come a long way, but there’s still a special magic when you move into your first post-college apartment. All-Clad’s HA1 Expert Nonstick Cookware 7-Piece Set is the Goldilocks of starter sets—not too big, and not too small. The slightly oversized pieces mean that you can forgo with larger sets that take up a lot of cabinet space. The scratch-resistant, hard anodized nonstick set is oven ready, up to 500-degrees, which further increases its versatility. Info: www.all-clad.com
SPRING’S LOVE
NOTES--BOTTLED
If you’re looking for the perfect wine to buy by the case for a Mother’s Day or graduation brunch, consider Varvaglione’s Bianco Puglia IGP Bio 12 e mezzo. Its price is low. Its standards are exceedingly high. This aromatic organic wine channels its Apulian territory through light herbaceous notes, bright citrus, and well-balanced acidity. Add long minimalist bins to the table and allow the bottles—and their gorgeous labels—to be incorporated into the table setting. Add a few bottles of high-end champagne, and voilà!
Info: shop.varvaglione.com
HERBAL, SOULFUL
GIFTS
Golden milk—a healthy, anti-inflammatory drink—just so happens to be one of the coziest, most scrumptious sips as well. Anima Mundi Apothecary’s website offers a scroll-like list of herbal goodness, medicinal petals, and elixirs, but the Golden Sun Milk blend was one of the first gifts I thought of for this month. The energizing adaptogenic chai, used in traditional Ayurvedic wellness, blends beneficial herbs and spices (including cinnamon and ginger), which is mixed with warm milk and a bit of honey. Look for a lovely mug on Etsy or a makers’ market and wrap it up with the Golden Sun Milk blend and the Coconut Cream dairy-free creamer. Recipe tips are available on the website as well. Info: animamundiherbals.com
TEA—BUT MAKE IT BOOZY
I love these Sayso cocktail starters for picnics or any scenario where you want to simplify the craft cocktail supplies. Ingenious, really. The Sayso concept packs all the craft cocktail goodness into one itty bitty teabag. So, all you need to do is add liquid and your spirit of choice. Looking to stay zero-proof? Just skip the booze and add more water or seltzer. Varieties like Skinny Hibiscus Cosmopolitan, Skinny Spicy Margarita, and Skinny Cardamom Paloma keep the sugar close to zilch and Espresso Martini delivers all the java vibes with just 5 grams. Info: drinksayso.com
KEEPSAKE SEASON
We’re celebrating moms and college grads, but the keepsake season includes weddings and Father’s Day, which is just around the corner. Artifact Rising offers a wonderful selection of customized photo albums, but it’s their Scrapbook Album that has me most excited. The kit includes prompts, adhesive, envelopes for keepsakes, and a promotional code for ten free Everyday Prints—a great opportunity to pre-print some meaningful images to include in the gift. It’s perfect as is, but if you want to dive deeper into the theme, include additional scrapbooking accessories. Info: artifactuprising.com
SPRING KNIT, PERFECTED
If you’ve been reading this column for some time, you know that I value versatility, and this spring knit delivers, big time. First of all, it’s a gorgeous cotton-cashmere blend. But it’s the easy, breezy mesh design that keeps this sweater in the rotation for multiple seasons. Mom can wear it untucked with leggings or half-tucked with jeans or a skirt, and it’s got coastal chic down to a science. In fact, this Velvet brand Kanan Cotton Cashmere Mesh Sweater and the lobster claw Sea Bag mentioned earlier would be a fantastic gift combination.
Info: velvet-tees.com