As I was attempting to put together a Mother’s Day Gift Guide for you all this morning, I suddenly realized that no matter how many hours of thought I put into it, it probably wouldn’t be helpful to 90% of my readers. I would likely just round up the things that my own mother would like, which would be great for the small percentage of you whose mother’s styles style mirrors that of my mom’s, but a waste of time for the majority whose don’t. It’s impossible to box all moms into one gift guide, from the new mothers to moms who have great grandchildren, they are all unique individuals who have their own stories, their own interests and their own personal style. So, rather than waste your Saturday morning on a gift guide for MY mom, I’ve rounded up a list of questions I always ask myself when I’m seeking out the perfect gift for someone I love to come up with something that’s thoughtful and that they’ll truly want. 🙂
So here are the questions to ask yourself when you’re seeking gift for your loved one that will make you the best gift giver ever!
**Side note – Cole’s birthday is this Wednesday, so this whole gift giving thing has been on my mind all week, just sayin’.
What Has Been Going on in His/Her Life Lately?
The key to being a good gift giver (and not wasting your money on something the person doesn’t even want) is being thoughtful and the best way to do that is to start by asking this question (the one above). Has the person been stressed lately? A massage would be an amazing gift idea. Have they recently moved into a new house? Some fun new decor like these gorgeous throw pillows for their home would be so thoughtful. Had a baby? Got a new job? Got engaged? Start getting some gift ideas based on this knowledge. For one of my best friend’s birthdays recently who had recently got engaged, I put an adorable journal/planner in her gift because I knew she’d need it for the wedding planning process.
What Does She/He Do to Relax or For Fun?
It’s hard to not be drawn to the things we personally like when seeking a gift (which is what makes shopping for dudes SO hard!), but to help, ask yourself what that person does to relax or have fun? Is she a yogi? A fun new yoga mat like this adorable one would be the perfect idea! Does he play golf? Some new golf shoes or clubs would make his day. My husband, for example, love hunting (like, a lot!), and while I know nothing about the hobby/sport, a trip to Bass Pro Shop and talking to one of the experts there will always do the trick. Getting the person something that has to do with what their personal hobbies are will make them feel so special. Example 2 – if anyone gets me anything Disney at all, it makes me so happy and giddy I nearly cry because I just think it is SO sweet and thoughtful.
Does She/He Have Any Upcoming Travel or Events Planned?
Thinking about the person’s travel/event plans can be super helpful when thinking of gift ideas. Is he or she going on a tropical getaway? Some beach essentials like a towel or a personalized sunhat like this one (SO cute I can’t even!) would be a great idea. Is he or she running a half marathon? Some new workout gear would probably be much appreciated. A weeks-long trip to Europe? A music festival? A mission trip? Traveling or preparing for an event usually requires new purchases (especially for us girls), so taking an item off that list for them would likely be much appreciated.
Is There Something She/He has Been Talking About Wanting or Doing Lately?
This can be tricky, but think closely about the conversations you’ve had with that person recently. Have you been to their home and they don’t have a particular item they want/need? For example, my mom knew Cole and I needed a nice trash can (so fancy, I know) so she surprised us on Easter with a beautiful new stainless steel trashcan. Has she commented on how much she loves your jewelry organizer? A monogram jewelry organizer would be a great gift idea (and how adorable is this one for just $30?!) Has he needed a tool around the house that you don’t have? Try to think about these conversations you’ve had and start putting together ideas based on that. And next time, you’ll remember to write it down when he or she drops a hint.
Does He/She Frequently Ask to Borrow Something of Yours or a Friend’s?
This is an easy question to ask yourself that you may not think of and it’s especially good when thinking about a gift for a girl. Whether your mom, your sister or your best friend, girl’s borrow each others stuff all the time, so this can give you a big clue on what to get her. Is there a particular clothing item or beauty product that she loves to borrow? Why not get her one of her own or something similar. It’s something you know she likes and she’ll appreciate the thought you put into it.
What is His/Her Love Language?
You probably know what your husband/boyfriend’s love language is, but think about the love language of your other loved ones too when picking out a gift. For someone who is close to you, you likely won’t need to have him or her take the quiz, but having this mindset will help narrow down your options. (PS – here are the five love languages in case you need a refresher!) Does he or she appreciate words of affirmation? A sentimental gift like a personalized photo frame of the two of you (I got this one for my parents on our wedding day!) or a mini scrapbook of some kind along with a personal, thoughtful card would probably melt his or her heart. Is his or her love language quality time? Rather than buying a physical gift, you may think about making reservations at his or her favorite restaurant or buying tickets to a concert for his or her favorite band or artist. Thinking about the way her or she receives love will allow you to be much more thoughtful when selecting a gift.
Okay, that’s all for now. Getting the perfect gift can be so hard, so I hope this little blurb helped you in some sort of way. Now I’ve gotta get going because my husband’s birthday is in four days and I’m still working on that perfect gift for him. 😉
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Fair-well xx,
