Shopping for women is notoriously difficult. The truth is, we don't really know what we want until we see it, and a mom's Christmas list is more apt to be full of things for her children than things for herself.
So for the women out there who don't know what they want for Christmas, for the children who want to get their moms something special, and for the men who are completely lost when it comes to feminine gifts, here is some inspiration to get you started.
A maxi skirt
Every woman knows the most comfortable skirt she owns is her maxi skirt. Not only are they soft, stretchy and versatile; they also fit any body type. They come in essentially every color and are perfect for the busy mom who has a lunch date with a friend. Just slip it on and run out the door.
A birthstone necklace
The dearest thing to a mother's heart is her children, which is why any gift commemorating them will be especially cherished. A necklace with the birthstones of each of her kids is one way for her to keep those little ones close by.
An iPad fridge mount
Research has found that moms spend, on average, a little more than three years in the kitchen over the course of their lives. That's probably why the iPad fridge mount was invented. It allows moms to keep their iPad off the dirty countertops, out of a child's reach, yet within view so they can watch live-streamed news or a movie or listen to their favorite audiobooks.
A scarf
Scarves are no longer considered cold weather clothing; women wear them all year round. With every fabric, pattern, color and style imaginable on the market, there is literally a scarf for every occasion. A girl can never have too many scarves.
Scented candles or wax melts
Don't you just love the scents of the holiday season? Baking pumpkin pie, spiced apple cider, fresh pine trees — these scents have the power to conjure happy memories of Christmases past. With scented candles or wax melts, you can keep these scents with you all year (and ensure the first thing guests smell when they walk in your home isn't the overflowing trash bin).
A book
For women who like to read, it's a gift that keeps on giving. Does her favorite movie have a book it was based on? Does she love the classics? The most important part of any book gift is the personal inscription you leave in the front — this is what she'll treasure the most.
A date night
Not to be confused with another gift card to her favorite restaurant, giving a woman a "date night" involves planning everything out, including babysitting, entertainment and food, and delivering it to her, prepaid so she can't protest. Think about fun experiences you know she'd enjoy, like going to a concert, a play or a sports game.
A personalized smart phone case
There are a lot of options out there for smart phone cases, but none of them can compare with seeing her husband or child's smiling face every time she fishes her phone out of her purse. There are lots of options online for personalized phone cases. Shop around to find the best deals and styles.
Fancy hand soap
Moms are constantly washing their hands, so why not treat yours to a variety of nice, scented hand soaps to keep her smelling fragrant? Some kinds have lotion added, which will keep her hands from drying out through those sometimes thrice-hourly hand washing sessions.
An at-home spa treatment
Women don't get to go to the spa as often as they'd like, which is why they'll appreciate having the ingredients to do it themselves. Look for items like sugar scrubs, which exfoliate the skin, anti-aging creams or a foot moisturizer.
Touch-screen gloves
Touch screens on smart phones mostly make life easier — except during the winter when someone is calling and you can't get your gloves off in time to swipe the screen and answer it. Enter touch screen gloves. No more frozen fingers trying to text or missing calls. They're fasionable and functional.
A portable pacifier sterilizer
This is pure genius. Any mom can tell you about the quandry she's put in when her baby's only binky drops on the ground in a public area. Now what? Should she suck it off? Wipe it on her pants? This pacifier sterilizer solves those problems: It needs only 2 AAA batteries, fits in your purse, and sterilizes a binky in less than five minutes. Where has this been all my life?
This Christmas, don't take the easy way out with more chocolate or a gift card; give the women in your life something more personal and thoughtful. It's time to show moms, wives, girlfriends and women everywhere how much you appreciate them.
