For your mom

I usually forgo gift recommendations based on specific relationships or holidays in favor of suggestions based on personalities and recurring social events. But with Mother's Day right around the corner (May 8 - don't forget!), I am making an exception. You can't go wrong giving a gift based on your mom's personality, but there are several gifts to consider that are better suited to moms than other recipients on your list (like a house cleaning or laundry service). 

Although most people associate Mother's Day strictly with mothers and grandmothers (not surprising, given the day's name), don't forget about those other women who have been influential in your life and helped guide you to become the person you are today. Consider surprising an aunt, friend, mentor, or any other woman who has impacted your life with a little token of your affection. I guarantee that, regardless of what you give her, the fact that you thought of her on Mother's Day will mean the world.

Here are some suggestions that are sure to delight your mom or mother figure:

Flowers: It's hard to go wrong with flowers. Whether you send them alone or along with another gift, flowers are a visual reminder that Mom is brings light and beauty to your life. Send her favorite kind if you know it; otherwise, choose something bright and cheery like daisies (regular or gerbera), lilies, or sunflowers. Also consider giving her a plant for her garden or a potted plant in a fun container so she can enjoy the gift even longer.

Time: Ask any mother what her perfect gift would be and she will probably answer "spending time with my family." Make her wish come true with the gift of quality time or a visit home. Schedule a family outing, a lazy day by the pool, or even a nice meal together for a gift she will never want to exchange.

Chore Service: Moms of any age have those "maternal" responsibilities like laundry, cooking, and cleaning (if dad takes care of these duties in your family, just ignore this recommendation until Father's Day). Give her a day or two off by outsourcing these tasks to someone in her area, either by giving her a gift certificate for the service or making arrangements with the vendor directly.

Spa Treatment: Moms seem to have an ingrained work ethic that is second to none, and most of them find it hard to take a break and relax. Pamper her with a spa treatment, such as a massage, manicure/pedicure, or facial. For extra points, schedule a spa day for the two of you, or for her and Dad together.

Portrait: I've never met a mother who doesn't love pictures of her family. If it's been awhile since your last family portrait, this would be a great gift for Mother's Day. You could have a portrait of the kids and grandkids made in advance, or schedule a session for the entire family (plan it for after Mother's Day if you want it to be a surprise). For a less formal gift, consider a photo book from Shutterfly - they look polished and allow you to customize the whole thing. You could memorialize your (or your child's) childhood, a special family trip, or visits to Grandma's house.

Jewelry: Jewelry is a great gift for some moms but a horrible one for others. If you know your mom likes jewelry, feel free to give her a new piece. However, if she wears the same thing every day and you don't have a clue what kind of jewelry she would appreciate, steer clear. If you decide to go with jewelry, remember to choose a classic piece and stay away from anything cheesy.

Coffee/Tea: If there's one thing most moms need, it's caffeine. Get Mom her favorite blend of liquid energy or pick up a gift card to Starbucks or another coffee shop. If she prefers tea, treat her to a gourmet blend from Teavana or Harney & Sons. Another great choice is a coffee or tea of the month club subscription, like the Kona Hawaiian Organic Coffee Club, Caribou Coffee of the Month Club, or Teavana Tea of the Month Club (12 Months). Also consider an accessory like a new tea or coffee pot, mug, or storage canister.

Tickets: Treat mom to a night on the town with tickets to a movie or show you know she'll enjoy. If you live close enough or can schedule it, go with her for a double gift of the outing and quality time together! 

Gift Basket: If you can't decide on a single gift, give mom a gift basket full of her favorite goodies. You could include lotion, muffins, coffee, tea, perfume, popcorn and a movie or rental voucher, her favorite candy, a restaurant gift certificate, body wash, candle, or bottle of wine. Put the items in a nice basket she can reuse and finish it off with a colorful spring bow. If you need a ready-made basket, Gourmet Gift Baskets offers a wide selection that's sure to please even the pickiest mom.

What are you giving your Mom this Mother's Day?

For the (non-video) gamer

Our world constantly inundates us with serious matters that require us to put on our mature personas and deal with. But we all have a child hiding somewhere beneath our adult exteriors, and games are a great way to encourage it to emerge. The next time you need a present, consider giving the gift of fun that a game offers. Even if your recipient isn't a huge gaming buff, she will likely appreciate receiving a new game as a gift - most people love fun presents they can use and enjoy! Games and gaming accessories also make great hostess, wedding, and wedding shower gifts - don't be surprised if you are invited to a game shower sometime soon!

These recommendations are limited to gamers of the non-video variety - not because of any prejudice against video gamers, but simply because there is no way to give substantive recommendations for both kinds of gamers without posting the longest entry ever in the history of blogging. Don't worry, I will cover video gamers at a later time!

Here are some suggestions for your next gift for a non-video gamer:

Special or different edition of her favorite game: If your recipient has a favorite board game, think about giving her another version like a retro (see below) or updated edition. For a Monopoly fan, give a different edition of the game (find a list of available editions here), like the Electronic Banking or City edition, or Photo-opoly (insert your own pictures for a customized and unique gift). For Scrabble lovers, consider this premium edition (one of Oprah's all-time favorite things) or the premier wood edition. For a chess buff, check out a modern version like the MOMA edition or this black and clear glass set, or even a giant garden set. If you want to spring for luxury (read: expensive) games, visit Luxuo, the British Museum store online (for chess and Mahjong), or Zontik Games (which also offers custom games and pieces) - or buy a collector's edition of her favorite game, like this Monopoly version from Franklin Mint. For a crossword puzzle lover, you can't give a bigger gift than The World's Largest Crossword Puzzle - or go with a more manageable but really cool framed copy of the world's first crossword puzzle plus the personal favorite of the crossword master himself, Will Shortz. If her favorite game has add-ons (like the Apples to Apples expansion set or Cranium booster box), these can also inject new life into her favorite gaming experience.

Premier Wood Scrabble Crossword Game with rotating board (photo courtesy of Amazon)

Retro Version of Game: Retro products are making a comeback, and games are no exception. Game lovers who also enjoy history will especially appreciate these older versions. You can find both original versions of the game (rarer and pricier) and new versions in vintage styles. I love this original retro 1954 Monopoly game and this 1949 Clue edition. Etsy is a great resource for these kinds of items, as are sites like Vintage Game World (which has hundreds of vintage games to choose from) and Vintage Board. For vintage (but new) editions, check out Monopoly Nostalgia (made like the 1957 edition, complete with wooden houses and aged money), Scrabble Retro, Risk Vintage, Sorry Retro, Clue Vintage, and Life Vintage.

Monopoly Nostalgia (photo courtesy of Amazon)

Mini or Travel Edition: Let your gamer have fun on the go with a smaller version of his favorite game. You can find travel games all over the Internet, but Amazon has a great selection. Even smaller versions of some games are available here, and many come in keychain versions that actually work, including Simon Says, Trouble, Sorry!, Battleship, Monopoly, Boggle, Cranium, Connect Four (also available in pen form), Scrabble, Operation, and Rubik's cube. Lots of larger games also come in table top versions, like air hockey, pool (complete with cues, chalk, and a table brush!), and foosball (which also comes in a pocket version).

Connect Four pen (photo courtesy of Amazon)

Game Accessories: Most games come with the basic items required for play, but upgrading your gamer's accessories makes a great gift. Consider dice (see below), a chess clock or storage container, backgammon checkers or dice cups, extra Monopoly money, a deluxe hourglass timer, or a Rubik's Cube stand. Visit The Chess Store, The Backgammon Store, or The Mahjong Store for a complete selection of products for their respective games. If your recipient likes to wager when he plays, he will appreciate a quality set of poker chips, like this World Series of Poker edition or this set that comes in a handy carrying case.

Dice: Every serious gamer deserves to have a premium dice set of his own. If you value quality over quantity, check out these Trademark Poker 19mm A Grade Serialized Set of 6 Casino Dice, available in a variety of colors, or this set with Swarovski crystals in an alligator case. If quantity is more important, go with this Fabulous Las Vegas Dice 200 Piece Set. For a nice, middle of the road version, check out these precision sets in various colors. For a perfect roll every time, throw in a dice tower like this miniature one or this portable version. Top it all off with a dice tray like this luxury version or this more affordable alternative.

Trademark Poker Casino Dice (photo courtesy of Amazon)

Accessories: For a less useful but more interesting gift, consider giving jewelry or accessories made from game pieces. For men, I like cufflinks featuring dice, Four Aces, Monopoly Money Pot Bag Token Pieces, Sudoku grid, Legos, and Scrabble tiles, as well as this Monopoly money tie. If you want a ladies gift, check out this Lego block ring, Scrabble earrings, Scrabble ring, Scrabble necklace, Dominoes necklace, Rubik's Cube necklace, Monopoly tiny house earrings, and Monopoly charm bracelet.

Furniture: For a hardcore game fan, consider giving a piece of furniture or home decoration inspired by his favorite game. A Scrabble lover will appreciate this set of four pillows that look like large playing tiles (available in your choice of letters) or these pillows available individually by letter (spell out his name or a special word). Rubik's Cube addicts will love this coffee table sized version that doubles as a mini storage unit, and these oversized chess pieces will thrill a chess aficionado. For Lego lovers (or anyone who needs storage in a game room), these giant Lego storage boxes are both fun and functional. I also love the Connect Four mirror, Hidden Word Wall Clock, and 6-in-1 game top dresser.

Hidden Word Wall Clock from chiasso (photo courtesy of Amazon)

New Game Like His Favorite: As fun as his favorite games are, sometimes a gamer needs a new experience to spice up game night. If you want to give a new game your gamer is unfamiliar with, either choose one you are personally a fan of (and think he would also enjoy), or look for a game that is the same type as his favorites (logic, individual, group, trivia, etc.) For logic lovers, give a Rubik's Cube in either the original or a more difficult version, or a "mindtwister" game like Pentago. Scrabble lovers will enjoy Scrabble Me (each player has his own board), Scrabble Flash, and Bananagrams (like Scrabble but without the board). Other twists on the classics include Anti-Monopoly (like classic Monopoly but players choose at the outset to play as a monopolistic entity or as a capitalist entity), Yamslam (like poker but without the cards), and Sudoku Cube. If you need some inspiration, visit Game Days, Gift Bee, or Amazon.

Game-Inspired Items: To extend the gaming experience beyond game night, give an item inspired by her favorite game. For chess lovers, there are wall hooks, salt and pepper shakers, and bookends. For Scrabble fans, check out the Scrabble keyring (with a single letter tile) and Scrabble board sketchbook. I also love the Rubik's Cube salt and pepper shakers, Rubik's Cube alarm clock, chips and dice salt and pepper shaker set, Battleship USB hub, "Board Game Expert" mug, and NY Times crossword tray.

Brainteaser Salt And Pepper shakers (photo courtesy of Amazon)

I love finding new games that are fun and challenging. Some of my favorites are BananaGrams, Wits and Wagers, Apples to Apples, Catch Phrase, Guesstures, Scattergories, Taboo, Cranium, Sudoku, and crossword puzzles.

What are your favorite games?