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Mother’s Day is a day to honor the special women in our lives. Biological mothers, adoptive mothers, foster mothers, stepmothers, mothers-in-law, godmothers, grandmothers, and more value the ongoing expressions of love and appreciation throughout the year but Mother’s Day is a chance to show them how wonderful they really are. This year I’ve put together a list of Mother’s Day gifts that are perfect for giving and getting.

This year’s list includes a designation to show which items are from small, BIPOC, and women owned businesses. It also includes gifts that give back and fair trade items where receive fair wages for their work. Since it’s more important than ever to show your support with how you spend your money, I’m glad to add this feature to this year’s Mother’s Day gift guide.

18 Favorite Mother’s Day Gifts

Whether you’re celebrating virtually or in-person, here are 18 of my favorite Mother’s Day gifts. Get them for all the important women in your life or give them to yourself because why not! You deserve it! Enjoy shopping and keep reading for a coffee giveaway courtesy of Fire Department Coffee!

Garden of Eden Handpainted Candle ($45) from Catalyst Collections

*fair trade gift made by women in Iraq

Inspired by the hanging gardens of Ancient Mesopotamia, Catalyst Collection’s Garden of Eden candle features contemporary adaptations of traditional Iznik ceramic designs dating back to the Ottoman Empire. Every candle is hand-poured by an Iraqi woman who gets fair wages for her work and whose story is featured on the enclosed card. It’s lightly scented with lavender, has a natural cotton wick, and provides 75 hours of burn time. Your candle measures 4 x 4.25 inches and arrives in a beautiful gift box. The ceramic vessel can be reused for decorative purposes.

Tough as a Mother Tribe Jewelry (starting at $39.99)

*Woman owned business

Tough as a Mother believes we’re all strong, beautiful, and tough as mothers and our journeys deserve to be honored through gorgeous, affordable pieces. I am in love with my Balanced Mama quartz necklace ($39.99) that’s a simple go-with-everything piece. The quartz helps you embrace patience and energy while also maintaining balance. Simply grab ahold of it whenever you need a tangible reminder to take a deep breath. The Cool Mama necklace ($39.99) is another minimalist piece whose blue chalcedony stone meaning ties back to staying cool, calm and collected – even under the pressure of motherhood. It also works to calm our racing minds, balances our thoughts, and increases communication between ourselves and others to help us find a clear path forward, no matter the circumstance.

Jewelry, Accessories & Home Collection from Old Line Oysters

*Small female owned business featuring fair trade products that give back to the Oyster Recovery Partnership

Aren’t we all dreaming of summer right now? Old Line Oysters’ gorgeous fair trade jewelry and products for house and home have us feeling the sun on our shoulders and the sand between our toes. Sophisticated yet beachy, it’s hard not to fall in love with the entire line of Old Line Oyster products! The home collection includes custom monogrammed shells featuring hand lettered initials ($35), oyster candles ($35) filled with eco-friendly wax, and salt and pepper cellars ($45)that bring the beach inside but in an elevated way. Shop the SeaBags collab and choose between a No Grit No Pearl bag ($180) or Nantucket Toile tote ($180) that will look just as great on your shoulder whether at the beach, around town, or at the farmer’s market. And the jewelry? It’s swoon worthy and has a range of price points to fit all budgets! Check out these stunners:

• The Lewes Bracelet ($80)- Named after the historic seaport of Lewes and made of freshwater pearls that encircle your wrist, this lovely bracelet has a triple plated 24k gold oyster created from a found shell that dangles delicately from the toggle fastener.
• Tilghman Island Earrings ($50)- Tilghman Island is on the Eastern Shore of the Chesapeake where life is a bit slower. Put these on and you’ll feel glam as a sense of calm encircles you.
• Fair Trade Job’s Tears Oyster Pendant ($45)- Old Line Oysters partnered with the women owned Hands Producing Hope in Costa Rica to make use of the tiny, pearl-like seeds that Old Line Oysters believes are symbols of strength and perseverance despite difficulty. A purchase of this necklace symbolizes a woman’s creativity, innovation and hard work all for which she is paid a fair wage, learns new skills, and receives educational opportunities.

Old Line Oysters also participates Oyster Recovery Partnership’s reef restoration efforts to keep the Chesapeake Bay clean and healthy for generations to come.

Wanderlust Passport ($24) from Bobo Designs

*Asian female owned small business

If you love chronicling your adventures or have vowed to start as the world opens up again, you’ll want to pack your Wanderlust Passport. Designed by my friend, Angie, founder of Bobo Design Studio, Wanderlust Passport is exactly what I’ve been looking for! With a sturdy water-resistant cover, and place to jot down the location, highlights, and keep photos or ticket stubs from each location, your passport is what you make it. I love that it gives you creative freedom to make it truly yours as you keep track of the best memories of your trip. Each journal includes a sticker pack with two sheets of stickers to help you decorate and note your entry pages and be sure to shop Bobo Design Studio for Angie’s amazing sticker designs and washi tape!

Lotus Medallion Earrings from Catalyst Collections ($20)

*fair trade gift made by women in Haiti

Many of my favorite pieces of jewelry are from Haiti. During my trips, I always loved visiting Croix des Bouquets and watching metalworkers craft gorgeous pieces from upcycled oil drums. Each depression, line, and dot is done by hand to form stunning pieces like these Lotus Medallion Earrings. The lotus flower symbolizes purity of the body, speech and mind.  

 I love the intricate cuts and dots that form the petals. These earrings definitely make a statement, are perfect to wear with anything, and the purchase provides fair wages to metalwork artisans.

Happy Endings by Thien-Kim Lam

*Asian female author and small business owner

I’ve been eagerly anticipating dear friend, Thien-Kim Lam’s debut novel to come out for the past year. Happy Endings is the story of Trixie Nguyen and Andre Walker, two exes who find themselves working together and reigniting their passion. Trixie is determined to make her sex toy business a success, proving to her traditional Vietnamese parents that she can succeed in a nontraditional career. She made a fresh start in Washington, D.C., and happens to be running her first pop-up event is going well—until she runs into Andrew, the ex who dumped her. With a Post-it note. I won’t spoil the book but just know that Happy Endings has been listed on Oprah’s 50 Most Anticipated Romance Novels of 2021 so it’s a book you’ll want to order now so you’ll have it when it comes out on May 18^th. You can buy it wherever you purchase books but when you purchase Happy Endings from Loyalty Bookstores, a small DC area bookstore, you’ll get an invitation to the digital release party on May 17^th at 8 pm ET.

MomAgenda

*small women owned business

Despite my love of technology, I still love writing in a paper calendar. Loyal readers know that my momAgenda Spiral Refill has been my trusty work and personal planner for years. This spring the company released their 2021-2022 Day Planners in an array of gorgeous new colors. MomAgenda features day planners for moms created by a mom of 4 and their line of MyAgenda day planners for everyone. The 18 month calendar runs from July 2021 through December 2022. This lets me add the school calendar to my planner in the summer in its entirety, without having to switch calendars mid-year. Both planners have a week-a-view format that’s flexible for me to add work, personal appointments, and my family calendar in a way that works best for me. It also features monthly views, 2 ribbons to mark my place, and is the perfect size for having right next to me on my desk or tucking in my bag. You can never go wrong with MomAgenda products as gifts!

DIY Bubble Tea Kits from Mama Bear Boba (starting at $29.99)

*small family owned business

If you know me, you know I love boba and the recent news of the boba shortage makes me more nervous than last year’s shortage of paper towels! Fortunately, my friends at Mama Bear Boba can help keep me well stocked thanks to their kits that make it easy to make your own bubble tea at home. Kits feature 6 single serving packets of drink mix, 6 single serving packets of Mama Bear Boba Tapioca Bubble Balls, 6 boba straws, and directions. Choose between single flavor kits that come in strawberry, Thai tea, Vietnamese iced coffee, mocha, peach, pineapple, mango, chocolate, vanilla, almond, taro, green tea, natural tea, natural black tea, roasted Japanese tea, matcha green tea, and more. If you can’t decide, the variety pack samplers are the way to go. They come in the best-selling flavors or tropical ones. I love having everything I need to make my own bubble tea when the craving strikes!

Democracy Jeans

*Woman conceived and led business

As much as we all want life to go back to what it used to be like pre-pandemic, we’re not quite ready to give up the freedom of wearing leggings and yoga pants. But eventually our work at home lifestyles will end and that’s where Democracy Clothing comes in. I first learned about Democracy years ago having stumbled upon jeans that stretch to fit perfectly while shopping during a work trip and fell in love. They’re my go to jeans for on-camera appearances, attending conferences, teaching, and every day. Their “Ab”solution jean collection is made from premium denim that stretches and features a hidden elastic waistband to prevent that no-gap waist. The styling is modern and includes skinny jeans (because yes, we’re still wearing them!), boot cut, straight leg, high rise, skimmers, capris, and more in all kinds of washes, colors, and fits- including tall, petite, and plus sizes. The prices won’t break the bank either. They start at $68 and are well worth every penny! Use code MothersQuest at checkout for 25% off your Democracy Clothing order (sale items excluded).

Fire Department Coffee (starting at $14.99)

*veteran-owned business that gives 10% to heroes in needs through Fire Department Coffee Foundation

If you’re someone who needs to count on a great cup of coffee to help you stay alert and energized, you need Fire Department Coffee in your life! The company was founded in 2016 by Luke Schneider, a full-time firefighter/paramedic and a U.S. Navy veteran, and firefighter/paramedic Jason Patton, who is also a full-time firefighter and VP for Fire Department Coffee. The company is run by active and retired firefighters who make great coffee like Shellback Espresso ($14.99) or Skull Crushing Espresso ($14.99) that will really get you going in the morning. If you like to sip at the end of the day, the spirit infused Vanilla Bean Bourbon-Infused Coffee ($19.99) won’t disappoint. The bags are decorated with some very cool artwork and you’ll feel great about this purchase since 10% of every purchase benefits the Fire Department Coffee Foundation, a nonprofit formed to help firefighters and first responders who are injured on the job, mentally or physically, or who are facing other serious health challenges. Fire Department Coffee is providing one bag of each Vanilla Bean Bourbon-Infused Coffee ($19.99) and Skull Crushing Espresso ($14.99) as a reader giveaway. Enter at the bottom of this post!

Re:treat Carry On by Solo New York ($73.90 on Amazon)

*gift that gives back

It’s hard to find a great carry on that is stylish, lightweight, keeps you organized while on the go, but the Re:treat Carry On checks all those boxes and is eco-friendly too! Two zippered outside pockets provide the perfect places for stashing a cell phone as you go through a TSA checkpoint or other small items that you need to grab from your bag when it’s stashed overhead. An interior zippered compartment keeps small items contained while double compression straps ensure the items you packed are as neat upon arrival as when you left. The Re:treat Carry On is part of the Re:cycled Collection by Solo and made of recycled ocean-bound plastic. For every bag purchased from the Re:cycled Collection, Solo NY will plant a tree in partnership with the National Forest Service.

Olive and June (gift sets starting at $65)

If you haven’t yet made a trip to the nail salon since the pandemic began, you’re not alone. I haven’t either thanks to Olive & June! I’ve fallen in love with my Olive & June Mani System that has made it so easy for me to do my own nails at home quickly, easily, and to perfection. The Mani System contains a nail buffer, nail fire, nail clipper, long lasting polish, super glossy top coat, clean up brush, polish remover pot, cuticle serum, and the patented Poppy bottle handle that makes it super simple to apply polish. Plus Olive & June’s free bootcamp videos teach you everything you need to know about your new tools for perfect DIY manicures at home.

World Travel: An Irreverent Guide by Anthony Bourdain and Laurie Woolever

I first read Anthony Bourdain’s Kitchen Confidential as a new mom 17 years ago and was hooked. Like many, I went on to watch No Reservations then Parts Unknown and then mourned the loss of the writer, television host, and traveler along with so many others. While credited to Bourdain, World Travel: An Irreverent Guide is assembled by his good friend, Lorie Woolever and is a compilation of his previous writings and an interview that occurred before his death. While nothing can bring him back to our screens, this book is perfect for fellow fans because it showcases his favorite places in a way that makes us miss him all over again.

Monthly Bobo Box ($55+) from Bobo Design Studios

*Asian female owned small business

Every month Angie releases a Monthly Bobo Box, a themed box full of gorgeous goodies. She highlights other female artists through her boxes that planner enthusiasts, journaling queens, and washi tape collectors will look forward to every month.

Bawdy Bookworms ($29.95 for the monthly quickie box, $44.95 for quarterly box)

Combining her love of books and her years of experience selling sensual adult toys at in-home parties, Thien-Kim Lam, founded Bawdy Bookworms because of her belief that every woman deserves a happy ending. Bawdy Bookworms’ quarterly and monthly quickie boxes are shipped in plain boxes, but their contents are anything but! Each box is centered around a theme found in the romantic book selection and includes some sexy surprises. The smart women who subscribe to Bawdy Bookworms also have access to an online community where they come together to talk about each quarter’s featured sexy book, share favorite reads, and chat just like your regular book club does. And if you’re worried that you’ll be stuck reading some cheesy romance novel, I encourage you to buy a single box because the books are always well written romances that will leave you yearning for your next Bawdy Bookworms box. As a bonus, Bawdy Bookworms subscribers are invited to join Bawdy Bookworms Insiders, a private Facebook that’s an active community of sexually empowered women who share favorite books, toys, and advice. Also check out the Bawdy Bookworms Facebook page where Thien-Kim will post updates about her debut novel, Happy Endings, coming out very soon- May 18, 2021!

Book of the Month (starting at $5/month)

For moms who love to read, you can’t go wrong with Book of the Month. Five new choices are presented each month and she’ll pick a favorite to be sent when she wants. Brand new hardcovers are less than elsewhere and if she wants to skip a month, no problem! Book of the Month plans available in 3, 6, or 12 month increments and come with free shipping plus these great offers make this subscription an even more enticing gift!

Causebox ($49.95/box)

*features ethical, sustainable, fair trade goods

What if you could make a single purchase that would empower and employ women, feed the hungry, educate the underprivileged, and provide education, clean water, and hope for victims of abuse all at the same time? CAUSEBOX does these things for men, women, and children around the world and more. This a quarterly subscription box for women that includes products from companies that are making a difference around the world. All products are socially conscious meaning that they give back to underprivileged communities, provide jobs and sustainable income in underdeveloped areas of the world, raise awareness for different charitable initiatives, and empower individuals. They aim to make the world a better place because all products that are featured in CAUSEBOX are made ethically. There’s a new CAUSEBOX available each quarter and you can subscribe for the year or give/purchase a single box by paying quarterly. Regardless of whether you’re a subscriber or a one-time buyer, every box contains at least $150 worth of products and 7% of every purchase is given back to charity for each box sold.

Digital Mother’s Day Cards from Punchbowl

If you’ve run out of time to send a gift but still want her to know you’re thinking about them on Mother’s Day, send a digital Mother’s Day card from Punchbowl. Punchbowl is an online greeting card service that makes it easy to be thoughtful for just $2.99/month. The site features cards for sisters, daughters, friends, grandmothers, aunts, mother-in-laws, daughter-in-laws, and more. They make it easy to let those you love know you care about them by sending an virtual card and gift card with a recorded message. While you’re on Punchbowl, check out their Mom of the Year Video Contest where your video message could win you a prize of $1000!

Check out how easy it is to enter in just 3 steps:

1. Personalize a digital Mother’s Day card for an important mom in your life
2. Upload a video to explain your nomination
3. Send the card to the mom you nominated and Punchbowl (their email is on the contest page) 

The panel of judges will award prizes to the most heartfelt videos the week of May 10th.

Enter to Win 2 Bags of Coffee from Fire Department Coffee!

Fire Department Coffee knows coffee is an essential for many moms and have generously offered to give away two bags of their coffee to a Tech Savvy Mama reader! Enter to win one bag of each Vanilla Bean Bourbon-Infused Coffee and Skull Crushing Espresso, a coffee prize pack worth $34.99 that will really get your day started or provide a pick up whenever you need it throughout your day. About each coffee:

• Skull-Crushing Espresso— The explosively bold taste of the Skull-Crushing Espresso will not only keep you alert, it’ll wake the dead. This Honduran coffee blend delivers a full-bodied and mind-blowing flavor. It’s dark and smooth, with hints of citrus & dark chocolate.  Brew it in an espresso machine or a standard drip coffee maker. No matter your choice, you’ll get the same amazing flavor in every cup. It comes in a medium grind. We recommend grinding beans if using an espresso machine.
• Vanilla Bean Bourbon-Infused Coffee—This unique and limited-edition coffee has been impossibly crafted to capture the essence of rich vanilla bean and premium bourbon. It delivers a smooth, subtle taste and a pleasant aroma that leaves you wanting more. This one-of-a-kind Spirit-Infused Coffee is anything but vanilla.

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No compensation was received for this post. Samples were received for testing purposes as always, the opinions are my own and based on things that I’d like to give or get as a Mom!