Your mom is older and probably either has everything she wants/needs, or is on a fixed income.

Two great options are a nice picture of yourself/family in a nice frame--digital frames are great, because you can load them up with your favorites. The second option would be to find out (probably from your wife) what shops your mom really likes, and get her a gift card to it, along with a nice bouquet and card.

This way, you aren't getting her generic feminine clutter.

Next year: use Evernote or Reqall to make notes for yourself tagged "gift ideas for Mom" and use it every single time she says she likes something. You'll have a clearer picture next time a gift-giving occasions arises!
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In my experience, mothers appreciate actions more than gifts. If you (or her grandchildren) don't see her as often as she'd like, plan a day (or series of days) where you can spend time and do activities with her. The memories will last longer than any gift you could buy.
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Does your mother like to drink tea? Last year I ordered a set of nice teas from Adagio.com and she really loved it. They even have a set of Mother's Day specials for you to choose from!

http://www.adagio.com/gifts/mothers_day.html?SID=6a20e4f869bdc5bc6f0e86e77e569a5f
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I'm going with the "time over money" theme others mentioned. I rented my mother a beach house for two weeks this summer and committed to coming for one week. My bothers are going for two weeks with their kids.

We are moving to a post-consumption society due to the fact that there is so much available to us (i.e. almost everyone in our society can own a TV, phone, clothes, food, etc). The United States in the land of plenty and as a result the thing we value is the thing we can not buy: time.
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There's nothing a mother loves more than her children and grandchildren. Any gift featuring a family photo or a photo of just the grandchildren is sure to warm her heart.

Here are some examples of great ideas for your Mother:

For only $15.99, you could get her this awesome photo coffee mug stuffed with a pack of Ghirardelli chocolates. Of course, these chocolates could be subbed for anything you think your mother would enjoy more, perhaps some coffee or tea?

http://www.shutterfly.com/shop/product_p2307/Mug_with_Ghirardelli_Chocolate?rtype=L&rid=pBE6lVbdmFw-Ppv0wfqC1GvFcajHVkUYeg&cid=FEEDLSR2307

http://web1.shutterfly.com/img_/shop/pipshots/2307_m.jpg

Zazzle has an assortment of custom gift options on their special Mother's Day section of their website, offering everything from personalized aprons to customizable mouse pads, t-shirts and mugs. You can even create personalized postage stamps.

http://www.zazzle.com/custom+mothers+day+gifts

http://asset.zcache.com/assets/graphics/z2/mk/events/mothersday/create/momStamps_stampAsset.jpg

I also thought these personalized cartoon family magnets were pretty neat. They're both fun and creative, but also heartfelt and family-oriented.

http://www.personalcreations.com/shop/product.asp?product_code=84491&world_code=1&category_code=&subcategory_code=&search_type=subcategory&GCID=&Keyword=84491&sbgid=&cmpid=FindGift&isGODATA=N&ischadv=N&ref=http://www.findgift.com/Holidays/Mothers-Day/for-Grandma/

http://www.personalcreations.com/estore_assets/images/shop/product/P0048882.jpg

Also, never underestimate the power of a homemade gift!

Whatever you decide to get her, I'm sure she'll love it. It's the thought that counts!
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Speaking from personal experience, the best present I gave my mother (or at least the best response I got) was an all-day spa treatment at the Four Seasons. She waited until after a very busy week at work and then she talked about it for weeks afterward.
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Show tickets (not movies) are a good option. The show doesn't have to be on Mother's Day but if she like that kind of thing it can be a lot of fun. Concerts work well, too. Find a concert in a genre she enjoys.
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Even though you aren't a grade-schooler anymore, a "chore coupon book" could still be a fantastic thing for your mom to receive. No matter how young or old your mom is, she could still use help with household tasks, even if only because of time constraints.

For Mother's Day, maybe you could paint the house, or fix her computer if she has one. Maybe you could repair something around her home, or put together something that she's been wanting for a while, like a new bookshelf in the living room or something.

She'll really appreciate you taking the time to spend with her, and she'll love whatever job you do around her place. It'll make her life easier, and you'll get to show her how much you really love her.

Oh, and you can always top off Mother's Day with a nice meal out. You might even schedule that for the Monday after, when there aren't as many crowds.
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One year, I got my Mom a bonsai tree.

http://www.ratemyscreensaver.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/06/img-64122.jpg
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I'm saying the same thing here that I did in the one that was supposed to be from your kids...

I have always been a big fan of a gift certificate to a spa for either a massage, manicure, pedicure, or to get her hair done. You can never go wrong with a gift like that.
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Okay dad, first and foremost, flowers. I know they die, and won't last, but we women melt over flowers. And no store flowers. My husband learned that the hard way :) No candy, we already feel like our premarital bodies have dissappeared. We actually do get tired of the material stuff after awhile, so you should ask yourself....what can I "do" for my wife rather than what can I "get" for her. Making breakfast, getting the kids up and ready to tackle the day, clean anything, and do something different and out of your comfort zone. It means more to us seeing you do something we really enjoy, than you spending lots of money on something(except the flowers :)

Good luck
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Hey, I was wondering what to get for my mother, and landed at this page. I think it's amazing, and has great ideas. I'm sure you would be able to find something here that'll be interesting, practical, and beautiful.

It has everything from home decor, to clothes and accessories, food you can learn to prepare, and other miscellaneous stuff. As the site says: "It's when you want to do something more personal, more creative, for your mother... something from the heart."

http://www.wikihow.com/Make-Mother's-Day-Gifts

These are just some of the many terrific ideas on this site:

1. Scented Candle in a Glass

http://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/7/75/Soypillar.png/180px-Soypillar.png

2. Kusudama Flower

http://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/8/87/Pictures3_009_876.jpg/180px-Pictures3_009_876.jpg

3. Denim Purse from an Old Pair of Jeans

http://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/6/61/Jeans_purse11.jpg/180px-Jeans_purse11.jpg

4. Laptop Tote Bag

http://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/3/32/A28_908.JPG/180px-A28_908.JPG

5. Chocolate Truffles

http://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/a/ae/Truffles1_939.jpg/180px-Truffles1_939.jpg

6. Tiramisu

http://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/8/87/Tiramisu.jpg/180px-Tiramisu.jpg

7. Origami Photo Frame

http://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/4/4b/HPIM2288_496.JPG/180px-HPIM2288_496.JPG

8. Carnation from from tissue paper

http://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/f/f0/Cc_379.jpg/180px-Cc_379.jpg

9. Paper Roses

http://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/5/50/Pink-Roses-...-341.jpg/180px-Pink-Roses-...-341.jpg

10. Modified T Shirt

http://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/2/29/Random_stuff_shirt_Pictures_021_580.JPG/180px-Random_stuff_shirt_Pictures_021_580.JPG

11. Cocoa Lip Balm

http://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/3/30/Lipbalm.jpg/180px-Lipbalm.jpg

Good luck!

http://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/5/5a/Yakisoba.jpg/180px-Yakisoba.jpg
Source(s):
http://www.wikihow.com/Make-Mother's-Day-Gifts

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The old stand by present for Mother is flowers. I realized that a good DVD featuring her favorite actor and a box of Whitman's Sampler Chocolate Candy fills the bill very well.
Source(s):
Experience

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I would love a gift basket! I love Harry & Dave this site has been in business for 75 years. Or you can make a basket yourself with all you mom's favorite things. One year my sister sent my mom one of the Gift Towers and she loved it. Something different in every box! It was from 1800flowers.com.
Source(s):
http://www.harryanddavid.com/gifts/store/home___
http://ww4.1800flowers.com/

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I suggest "D-Link DSM-210 10" Internet Digital Picture Frame" - $ 209.95
The D-Link DSM-210 can display pictures from a variety of sources including internal memory, USB, Secure Digital (SD), MMC, Memory Stick and online sources.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/586240-REG/D_Link_DSM_210_DSM_210_10_Internet_Digital.html#features

The D-Link DSM-210 10" Internet Digital Picture Frame is one of the most unique digital picture frames on the market. This frame not only gives you the beauty of watching your favorite images on screen, but gives you internet access as well. Use the convenience of your home network to get photos using a wired Ethernet connection or the DSM-210's built-in wireless connection.

With this system, you can share images with your mother no matter where she is - a block away or on the other side of the world. With access to your favorite RSS feed, you can obtain news, weather, sports and other information sources. D-Link has partnered with FrameChannel to provide easy access to a library of interesting content to include in their photo frame - over 400 channels of dynamic content in the FrameChannel library.

In addition, with its 1GB internal memory, you can store your favorite images and upload them using a thumb drive or multimedia memory card.

• Share your latest photos with them through popular photo sharing sites such as Flickr, Picasa, Facebook, FrameChannel and more

• Get pictures from a local UPnP AV server such as a PC or Network Attached Storage (NAS) device

• Wall or table mountable
Source(s):
http://www.digitalpictureframereview.com/2008/08/review-d-link-dsm-210-10-i...

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How about a shiatsu massager? I know I would love getting one of those! I got one for my daughter's first Mothers Day, and it was around $60.00 the Brookstone . They have online shopping, and several locations in area malls.
Source(s):
http://www.brookstone.com/store/product.asp?product_code=565580&wid=17&...

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