Gift Giving Ideas For Your Om-Mamas

One of my Mom's favorite gifts, to date, was a pile of crap. I'm not kidding. She's a talented gardener, so the big bag of manure that my Dad bought for her one year, for Mother's Day, was a success. Indeed, it could be said that "The shit was a hit."

However, I wouldn't necessarily recommend buying manure for your Mom this year. Instead, I've collected a quick list of some of my favorite chic and reasonably priced gift ideas that mom is sure to love. Perhaps as much as that macaroni necklace you made so many years ago . . .

If mom is still smitten with handmade goods, then you'll both score big on Etsy.com. Boston-based bead queens Lisa Sisco and Carolyn Berluti of Family Jewels (befitting name for a gift for your matriarch, no?) fill their Etsy store with whimsical, beaded necklaces and bracelets that make perfect gifts. I rock a couple of their bracelets almost daily. They come in an array of colors and price points, mix well with your other baubles and bangles, or look stunning solo. Charm a new mom with a personalized pendant featuring her bundle of joy's initials or birth date. Countless vendors make some version of these on the crafty, hip website. Truthfully, you can find just about anything on Etsy, although that can sometimes be the downside for those who are inclined to hem and haw for having too many options.

If mom is less about bling and more about getting buff, hook her up with a private yoga, personal training, Pilates, or Gyrokinesis session. Be sure to do a little research first, to see which instructors and activities she likes best. If you're inspiring a new form of exercise with your gift, perhaps accompany the session with a book or DVD in the same discipline so that she can get the most out of her first class by brushing up on the basics in advance. Be a superhero gift-giver by topping off this wellness-themed gift with some cool gear, such as lululemon's heavenly Savasana Wrap (perfect for apres yoga, chilly nights out, or, as the name suggests, blissing out and wrapping up in sivasana) or a generously cut, extremely soft Running Shirt by Zensah.

If you'd prefer that your gift pamper rather than inspire peak performance, spa treatments are a no-brainer. Treatments too pricey for your budget? Opt instead for a few high-end beauty products that mom would never splurge for herself. My nature-loving mom digs the all-natural, handmade, Boston-based products by Violet Skin Boutique, especially the peony cleanser. Owner and master mixologist, Violet, recently created a 100% all-natural line for babies, following the arrival of her first grandchild- another perfect gift option for new moms. If you're nowhere near Beantown, choose Kiehl's products instead. They're amazing and environmentally-conscious (plus, visit the website now and you can ogle at beautiful peeps Kelly Slater, Adrien Grenier, and Erykah Badu in the company's new product campaign).

Perhaps mom is fond of gifts that do good? If so, TOMS Shoes are sure to get raves. Buy a pair for her and the three-year-old company automatically gives a pair to a child in a developing country. What's more, a pair of TOMS is the perfect summer slip-on for guys or gals. Order online and rest easy for having purchased a gift with style and substance.

Mom fed you for years, so why not take a similar approach? Instead of feeding her belly, however, why not feed her inspiration? Maybe mom is interested in becoming more tech-savvy, revisiting an old hobby such as playing the piano, or learning a new skill like skateboarding the half-pipe (hey, it could happen). Apple offers a wonderful program called One-to-One, which allows access to a private tech genius, one hour a week, for 50 weeks a year, in the form of tutorial sessions at a local Apple store. Fashion your own tutorials by enlisting the help of an expert in a field that interests mumsie. Have the teacher or coach come to her house, or locate an accessible adult education center, where she can further explore an activity or skill that she fancies.

Learning new things keeps our minds agile and hearts young, and what could be a better gift than that? Other than manure, of course.